North Cascade Cardiology

Echocardiography

An echocardiogram is a safe, non-invasive procedure used to create an image of your heart.  This test uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) which produce a moving picture of the beating heart.  The images show the heart chambers, valves, and large arteries and veins that bring the blood to the heart and carry the blood from your heart to your body.  Ultrasound is also analyzed using a technique called Doppler that shows the blood flow in the heart and across the valves.  An echocardiogram is used most commonly to evaluate the size and strength of the heart pumping chambers, to detect leaking or narrowing of heart valves, to check for fluid around the heart, to look for blood clots or tumors within or around the heart, or to look for holes between heart chambers.  Your physician may recommend an echocardiogram to evaluate your heart function after a heart attack, to find the cause of a heart murmur (a sound from your heart that may represent an abnormality), to evaluate your heart valves, or to find a source of chest pain.  The echocardiogram may also be useful to determine a cause of shortness of breath, an abnormal heart rhythm, or dizziness.  The echocardiogram is one of the most frequently used cardiac tests due to it's ability to show a detailed picture of the heart safely and quickly.

Types of echocardiograms performed at North Cascade Cardiology include:

  • Transthoracic Echocardiogram: used in most echocardiogram exams, performed with the patient resting on their back or side
  • Exercise Stress Echocardiogram: the transthoracic echocardiogram is performed in conjunction with a treadmill stress test, to evaluate the heart response to exercise stress
  • Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram: used to evaluate the heart response to stress in patients who cannot perform treadmill exercise.  Dobutamine is a medication that stimulates the heart.
  • Contrast Echocardiogram:  echocardiogram images may be enhanced with the use of "microbubbles" injected during the study.  The injected material is quickly eliminated in the body.
  • Adult Congenital: special techniques are used to evaluate congenital abnormalities (present at birth) and assess surgical treatments.
  • Pacemaker and Defibrillator Assessment: special techniques are used to assess response to pacemaker therapy, or need for defibrillator treatment

The echocardiogram uses sound waves which have not been found to have any risks in humans.  The test does not use radiation or dye.  A typical echocardiogram test takes 45 to 60 minutes.

The North Cascade Cardiology Echocardiography Laboratory performs state-of-the-art examinations using the latest equipment operated by skilled sonographers, and interpreted by cardiologists with special expertise in echocardiography.  The Laboratory is one of the few in Washington State to hold special accreditation by the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL).  This accreditation is awarded to laboratories that meet designated high standards in echocardiography.