ehokardiografi

Ekokardiografi, often referred to as an echocardiogram or cardiac ultrasound, is a diagnostic medical imaging technique that uses ultrasound to create images of the heart. It is a non-invasive procedure that allows healthcare professionals to visualize the heart's chambers, valves, walls, and blood vessels. The sound waves emitted by a transducer are reflected by the heart's structures, and these echoes are processed by a computer to generate moving images.

Echocardiography is used to diagnose and monitor a wide range of cardiac conditions. It can assess the heart's size and shape, evaluate the pumping function of the heart muscle, and identify abnormalities in the heart valves, such as stenosis or regurgitation. It is also valuable in detecting congenital heart defects, blood clots, tumors, and fluid accumulation around the heart (pericardial effusion).

There are several types of echocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the most common, where the transducer is placed on the chest. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) involves inserting a transducer down the esophagus for clearer images of the posterior heart structures. Stress echocardiography combines an echocardiogram with exercise or medication to assess heart function under stress. Doppler echocardiography is a specific technique used to measure the speed and direction of blood flow through the heart and blood vessels. The procedure is generally painless and safe, with no known long-term side effects from the ultrasound waves.