ECHO of the heart - the only way to diagnose heart defects

ECHO of the heart (ultrasound) is one of the best methods for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases, because it provides maximum information on diseases in the shortest possible time. The basic principles of its action - the waves are reflected from the structures of various densities, while changing the propagation velocity and wavelength. These waves are picked up by the equipment and after computer processing they create a picture of the heart on the screen.

Echocardiography (cardiac echocardiography) allows the cardiologist to determine changes in the valve apparatus, the thickness of the walls and the size of the heart chambers, changes in the structure of the myocardium and its functions, changes in the nature and velocity of blood flow through the valves, pathological discharges.

Advantages of this excellent diagnostic method - painlessness, informative, absence of any damages - make its application optimal in pediatric practice.

Indications for Echocardiogram

• The presence of changes in electrocardiographic studies.
• The presence of at least one of the complaints: shortness of breath, weakness, prolonged increase in body temperature, interruptions in cardiac work, palpitations, rare loss of consciousness, pain in the heart, the appearance of edema.
• Identification of noises in the heart.
• Ischemic disease (atherosclerotic and postinfarction cardiosclerosis, myocardial infarction).
• Cardiomyopathy.
• Increase in pressure.
• Diseases of the pericardium.
• Heart defects.
• Diseases of the lungs (chronic bronchitis, acute pneumonia, bronchiectatic disease, bronchial asthma).
• Systemic diseases (red systemic lupus, rheumatism, scleroderma).

Ultrasound of the heart is one of the most painless and safest methods among various diagnostic methods. In order to do an ECHO of the heart, no preparation is needed. During the procedure, the patient does not feel any unpleasant sensations, except that a slight coolness due to a special gel. The procedure has no contraindications. It allows you to put the most correct diagnoses, according to which, the doctor will choose the most appropriate treatment for the patient. Even with the help of ECHO (ultrasound) of the heart, it is possible to monitor disease progression and evaluate the correctness of their treatment.

Objectives of the study

Ultrasound of blood vessels and heart in medical practice is used, first of all, for recognition of various heart defects. It is also used to diagnose myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, post-myocardial infarction; Diseases of the external, muscular cardiac membranes (pericarditis, cardiomyopathy); With diseases of important peripheral arteries - lower extremities, brain, GI organs, kidneys. Increasingly, ECHO of the heart is used to conduct routine preventive examinations, because the method makes it possible to detect even early disorders in the processes of the heart.

Norm

In the absence of any specific diseases in the conclusion of the cardiac echocardiogram, it is indicated that the heart is normal and the thickness of its muscle too, the valves are not changed, and the quantitative parameters of cardiac work are also recorded. This is important for the follow-up of the patient.

Echocardiography can detect the initial possible changes in the heart - diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, hypertrophy of the left ventricle (significant wall thickening).

Echocardiography also makes it possible to identify areas of the myocardium that are deficient in blood flow due to the detection of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries; These areas appear less actively contracting (zones of hypokinesia) in comparison with the "healthy" ones. Such areas of myocardial hypokinesia are manifested either with myocardial infarction already occurred, or in high-risk areas of heart attacks, such patients need coronary angiography followed by surgical treatment (shunting). Echocardiography is also the only reliable way to diagnose valvular congenital, as well as acquired heart defects. This method allows you to perform dynamic monitoring of patients with heart defects and promptly identify the indications for the necessary timely correction of them.