Echocardiography of the heart: features of this survey and indications for its conduct

Echocardiography of the heart (ECHO-KG) is an ultrasound examination in which the condition of the valves of a given organ, the size of its cavities and wall thickness, as well as the features of the myocardium, can be assessed. In addition, this examination allows you to determine the direction and speed of blood flow inside the heart and pressure in the pulmonary artery. ECHO-CG is used for the following conditions:

• pathological sounds in the heart, detected in auscultation;

• symptoms of right or left ventricular failure;

• heart rhythm disturbances;

• cardiac ischemia;

• chest trauma;

• suspected aortic aneurysm;

• septic conditions;

• treatment with antibacterial drugs in patients with oncopathology.

How is cardiac echocardiography performed?

Before this study, patients do not need special training. To conduct ultrasound of the heart, a special sensor is used, which generates a ray in the form of a sector.

I must say that there are several positions that are used in conducting ECHO-CG:

• the aortic aorta is studied in the projection of the long cardiac axis;

• in the projection of the short cardiac axis, the condition of the aortic valve, pulmonary artery, left atrium, pulmonary artery valve and right ventricle, as well as the coronary artery vertebra , is "looked";

• the top (or four-chamber) position, when the sensor is installed at the level of the apex of the heart (in the region of the 4th intercostal space), allows to fix the volume of the left ventricle during contraction and relaxation, the shock volume (the difference between these two indices), and the ejection fraction;

• The five-chamber position is used to determine the rate of movement of blood in the aorta;

• Two-chamber position is needed to refine the measurement of the cavity of the left ventricle.

It must also be said that heart echocardiography allows the determination of specific coefficients: cardiac index and left ventricular mass index. These indicators are important for assessing the work of the heart , depending on the weight and height of the person.

Echocardiography of the heart: benefits

Among the main advantages of this heart examination are the following:

• availability;

• speed;

• non-invasiveness of the technique (does not require violation of the integrity of the skin);

• informative;

• does not require special training;

• can be carried out repeatedly, because it does not pose a threat to the life or health of the patient.

I must say that when heart echocardiography is performed, the rate of results depends on the age and sex of the patient. So, the sizes of cardiac chambers, pressure in them, and also thickness of walls or other parameters at patients of various categories far not identical will be.

If you need heart echocardiography, the price for this examination can fluctuate within 800-1800 rubles, which depends on the settlement and the level of the medical institution where it will be conducted.

The duration of the whole examination does not exceed 15 minutes. To date, modern equipment is used, which allows you to obtain an image during the procedure itself and to effectively detect signs of heart failure.