An echocardiogram is a safe, diagnostic test that uses sound waves to produce images of the heart and its vessels. Westchester Heart and Vascular uses the most advanced echocardiography imaging techniques, including:
- 3-Dimensional transthoracic echocardiograms
- 2-Dimensional transthoracic echocardiograms
- Exercise Stress transthoracic Echocardiograms
- Dobutamine Stress transthoracic Echocardiograms
- Transesophageal Echocardiograms
Echocardiograms provide useful information regarding most of the heart structures, including: heart muscle strength and movement, valve function, heart size and dimensions, pressure measurements and the pericardium. Dobutamine and exercise stress echocardiograms are used to diagnose coronary artery disease and assess how patients are responding to medical and/or revascularization therapy. Transthoracic echocardiograms take less than an hour to complete and are performed in our brand new state-of-the-art cardiac imaging center.
Transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE) are performed at Westchester Medical Center by one of our non-invasive cardiology experts. An anesthesiologist is present to administer sedation for the procedure. This type of echocardiogram is different than transthoracic echocardiograms in that it is minimally invasive. The TEE transducer is located on the end of an endoscope probe and is placed down the esophagus to look at the heart. TEE’s are especially useful to look for clots in the left atrium and left atrial appendage, which can happen with atrial fibrillation and look for infection on the heart valves. TEE’s also provide images of metallic prosthetic valves that you cannot see on a standard transthoracic echocardiogram.
To learn more about the services provided by Westchester Heart and Vascular please contact us at:
866-WMC-HEART (866.962.4327).
Email: CardiacImaging@wmchealth.org