|
The technique known as echocardiography is widely used in detecting heart disease. This is one of the more popular techniques since it uses no x-rays, provides great imaging and is non-invasive. Echocardiography is readily available, less expensive than other techniques, harmless to the patient and painless.
When this technique is used, images of the structure of the heart are taken using ultra sound. Ultra sounds are high frequency sound waves that are inaudible to the human ear. This sound reflects differently from each part of the heart giving back a complex series of echoes that are then displayed as a series of lines on a tape or machine. These lines are then interpreted by a cardiologist. This technique is used to detect structural and functional abnormalities of the heart wall, valves or large blood vessels. It can also measure the blood flow across the valves of the heart. This technique is harmless and the patient will feel nothing as the procedure is being done. It is popular with doctors, as well as, patients since records can be produced without the necessity of placing an instrument inside the patient's body.
The instrument that receives and sends the sound signals is known as a transducer. This is place on the chest in such a way that it will allow its sound waves to reach the area that is under investigation. Once the sound waves reach the area they will send back echoes which are detected and amplified. This amplification is then displayed visually in a series of lines that show up on what is called an oscilloscope screen or printed out a paper tape. Cardiologist will then study these lines interpreting them as a picture of the heart and its valves. From this they are able to determine how the heart is working.
Today this procedure has become even more sophisticated. Some methods have been developed which use moving transducers or a set of transducers. These are then attached to a computer which allows doctors to obtain a series of different views of the heart. Two dimensional scans can be produced that when recorded on video tape will give the doctor an easily recognizable picture of the interior of the heart and the activity there. Another addition to this technique is the recently developed Doppler echocardiography. Using this procedure doctors can indirectly measure blood flow velocity as it is passing through the heart. This is very useful in determining an assessment of malfunctioning valves in the heart and in working with people who have congenital heart disease.
With echocardiography doctors can detect any abnormalities in the heart wall motion, thickening and diseases of the pericardium which is the sack around the heart, any accumulation of fluid that is building between the heart muscle and the pericardium and the volume of blood that is being pumped from the heart each time it beats. There are three main types of ultra sound test. The M-mode ultra sound test is the simplest. It is comprised of a single beam of ultra sound that is aimed at the area of the heart that is being assessed. The most widely used technique is the two dimensional ultra sound which produces an very realistic two dimensional image that is computer generated into slices. The third technique, Doppler ultra sound, can detect the movement and turbulence of blood. With this technique, images can be displayed in color.
|
| |
