Sydänultraäänellä

Sydänultraäänellä, also known as echocardiogram or cardiac ultrasound, is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique used to evaluate the heart's structure and function. It utilizes high-frequency sound waves, or ultrasound, which are transmitted into the chest by a transducer. These sound waves bounce off the heart's tissues and blood, creating echoes that are then detected by the transducer and converted into real-time images on a monitor.

The primary purpose of a sydänultraäänellä is to visualize the heart chambers, valves, and walls. It can assess the size and thickness of the heart muscle, determine how well the heart is pumping blood (ejection fraction), and identify any abnormalities in the valves, such as stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (leakage). Doctors can also use it to detect fluid accumulation around the heart (pericardial effusion), blood clots within the heart, and congenital heart defects.

Different types of echocardiograms exist. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) is the most common, where the transducer is placed on the chest. Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) involves a transducer attached to a flexible tube that is guided down the esophagus, providing clearer images of the heart as it is closer to the organ. Stress echocardiogram combines ultrasound imaging with exercise or medication to assess how the heart functions under stress, helping to diagnose coronary artery disease.

Sydänultraäänellä is a vital tool in cardiology, aiding in the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of various heart conditions, including heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and congenital heart disease. The procedure is generally painless, safe, and does not involve radiation.