Types of Echocardiography

There are several different types of echocardiography-all use sound waves to create images your heart. This is the same technology that allows doctors to see an unborn baby inside a pregnant mother. Unlike x rays and some other tests, echocardiography doesn't involve radiation.

Transthoracic Echocardiography

Transthoracic (tranz-thor-AS-ik) echocardiography is the most common type of echocardiogram test. It's painless and noninvasive. "Noninvasive" means that no surgery is done and no instruments are inserted into your body.

This type of echocardiography involves placing a device called a transducer on your chest that sends special sound waves, called ultrasound, through your chest wall to your heart. Ultrasound waves can't be heard by the human ear. As the ultrasound waves bounce off the structures of your heart, a computer in the echocardiography machine converts them into pictures on a screen.

Stress Echocardiography

This is an echocardiography test that's done as part of a cardiac stress test. During a cardiac stress test, you exercise or take medicine (given by your doctor) to make your heart pump harder and beat faster. Some heart problems, such as coronary artery disease, are easier to diagnose when the heart is beating fast and pumping hard.

Transesophageal Echocardiography

With standard transthoracic echocardiography, it can be difficult to see the aorta and certain other parts of your heart. If your doctor needs a better look at these areas, he or she may recommend transesophageal (tranz-ih-sof-uh-JEE-ul) echocardiography.

In this test, the transducer is attached to the end of a flexible tube that's guided down your throat and into your esophagus (the tube leading from your mouth to your stomach) to get a more detailed image of your heart.

Fetal Echocardiography

This type of echocardiography is used to look at an unborn baby's heart. A doctor may recommend this test to check the baby for heart problems. Fetal echocardiography is commonly performed during pregnancy at about 18 to 22 weeks.