An echocardiogram is a non-invasive medical test that uses sound waves to create images of the heart. The test is typically performed by a cardiac sonographer or a cardiologist.

During an echocardiogram, a small probe (transducer) is placed on the chest or abdomen and directed towards the heart. The transducer emits high-frequency sound waves that bounce off the heart and produce images of the heart’s chambers, valves, and surrounding blood vessels.

The images are displayed on a monitor and recorded for later analysis. Echocardiograms can provide important information about the size, shape, and function of the heart, as well as the presence of any abnormalities such as heart valve disease, congenital heart defects, or heart failure.

There are several types of echocardiograms, including transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE), transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE), and stress echocardiograms. TTE is the most common type of echocardiogram and is performed by placing the transducer on the chest. TEE involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a transducer on the end into the esophagus to obtain clearer images of the heart. Stress echocardiograms are performed while the patient is exercising or receiving medication to increase the heart rate.

Echocardiograms are a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring various heart conditions, and are generally considered safe and painless.