Special Echocardiography Stress Echo


What is Echocardiography

  • What is Echocardiography?
  • Why is Echocardiography performed?
  • Types of echocardiography
  • What is stress Echocardiography (SE)/Dobutamine stress echocardiography?
  • Why is this test performed?
  • What precautions should be taken by the patient before the test?
  • What happens during the test?
What is Echocardiography?

It is  a non-invasive painless diagnostic tool or an ultrasound of the heart in which the sound waves create moving pictures of the heart. It helps to mirror your heart by helping to map the exact structure of the heart (shape, size) along with its chambers and functioning of the valves.

Why is Echocardiography performed?

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.
Types of echocardiography
  • Transthoracic Echocardiography: done through your chest wall
  • Stress Echocardiography
  • Trans-esophageal Echocardiography: done through the esophagus
  • Fetal Echocardiography
  • 3-D Echocardiography:
What is stress Echocardiography (SE)/Dobutamine stress 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.
Why is this test performed?
  • 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
What precautions should be taken by the patient before the test?
    • 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.
What happens during the test?
  • 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

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What to expect during the test?
What to expect during the test?
  • Increase in the breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure, and perspiration.
  • It may cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, and shortness of breath in some patients.

At Care For Your Heart we provide comprehensive cardiac treatment to all our patients.













© Behearthealthy 2023. All rights reserved. Site Designed by U1R

© Behearthealthy 2023. All rights reserved. Site Designed by U1R