It is done in the following conditions:

• To check for abnormal heart sounds (heart murmurs)caused by valve issues
• In cases of sudden onset of severe chest pain or angina, shortness of breath and fatigue
• To evaluate enlarged heart due to hypertension or valve diseases
• To evaluate birth defects seen in congenital heart diseases affecting the normal functioning of the valves in the heart.
• To check for tumors or blood clots in the arteries of the heart post surgeries or due to cardiac diseases.

• Transthoracic Echocardiography: done through your chest wall
• Stress Echocardiography
• Trans-esophageal Echocardiography: done through the esophagus
• Fetal Echocardiography
• 3-D Echocardiography:

• It is a special type of echocardiography used in patients unable to exercise during a stress test Certain patients like patients who have knee and other orthopedic  problems, especially who those can’t walk on a treadmill, a special form of echo called dobutamine stress echo is done. Where in a special injection called dobutamine is injected through the veins and the pumping of the heart is analysed.

• The test is used to evaluate:

  • The level of activity tolerated by your heart and the functioning of the heart and valves (which helps determine safe limits for patients exercising regularly)
  • Your chances of having coronary artery disease (CAD) or heart blocks
  • The effectiveness of treatment plan
  • The severity of heart diseases.
  • The state of the heart pre and post-surgeries like bypass and angioplasty.
  • Fitness for surgery

• • Not consuming solid or liquids (except water) for four hours before the test.
  • Avoid caffeine-containing, decaffeinated, or caffeine free products for 24 hours before the test (which includes ttea, coffee, most chocolate products, soft drinks, strawberries.
  • Avoid smoking on the day of the test.
  • The following group of heart medications should be taken only under physician advise on the day of the test
    • Beta-blockers
  • • Isosorbide mononitrate, dinitrate, and nitroglycerine
  • In the case of diabetic patients, sugar should be checked and diabetes medicines should be taken after consulting the physician.

• It is a 6 to 24 minute procedure where the dose of dobutamine is increased every 3 mins. The following will be done during the test.

  • Electrodes (small, flat, sticky patches) are placed at 10 small areas on the chest gently rubbed by a sonographer which are attached to an electrocardiograph (ECG) that tracks the heart’s electrical activity during the test.
  • A resting EKG, baseline blood pressure is taken before the test(resting heart rate) and taking your blood pressure. To perform this you will have to lie on your left side, and a wand (transducer) will be placed to view an outline of the heart’s movement.
  • The doses of Dobutamine are steadily increased to achieve the desired heart rate
  • The test will be stopped if there is chest pain/s any changes on the ECG monitor/Or the heart rate is achieved
  • You may feel palpitaions during the test which is due to the medication(Dobutamine)given

  After the test, you will be observed for at least an hour