ekokardiografiaan

Ekokardiografiaan, commonly known as an echocardiogram or cardiac ultrasound, is a diagnostic medical imaging technique used to evaluate the structure and function of the heart. It utilizes high-frequency sound waves, or ultrasound, that are transmitted through a transducer placed on the chest. These sound waves bounce off the heart's tissues and return to the transducer, where they are converted into images and measurements.

The procedure provides detailed real-time visualization of the heart's chambers, valves, walls, and major blood vessels. Doctors can assess the size and shape of the heart, the thickness of its walls, and how effectively it is pumping blood. Echocardiography is instrumental in diagnosing a wide range of cardiac conditions, including valve disorders, congenital heart defects, heart muscle diseases (cardiomyopathies), and issues related to the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart). It can also detect blood clots and tumors within the heart.

There are several types of echocardiography. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the most common, performed externally on the chest. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) involves inserting a transducer on a flexible tube down the esophagus, providing clearer images of the heart's posterior structures. Stress echocardiography combines an exercise stress test with ultrasound imaging to assess how the heart functions under physical exertion. Echocardiography is a safe, non-invasive, and painless procedure, making it a cornerstone in cardiovascular diagnostics.