ekokardiografinë

Ekokardiografia, commonly referred to as an echocardiogram or "echo," is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses ultrasound to visualize the heart's structure and function. It employs high-frequency sound waves, inaudible to humans, that are transmitted through a transducer placed on the chest. These sound waves bounce off different parts of the heart, and the returning echoes are captured by the transducer. A computer then processes these echoes to create real-time images and videos of the heart.

This non-invasive procedure provides crucial information about the size and shape of the heart chambers, the thickness of the heart walls, and the efficiency of the heart's pumping action. It can also assess the function of the heart valves, detecting any abnormalities such as regurgitation (leakage) or stenosis (narrowing). Echocardiography is instrumental in diagnosing a wide range of cardiac conditions, including congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), and problems related to heart attacks.

There are several types of echocardiograms. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the most common, involving the transducer placed on the outer chest wall. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) involves a transducer attached to a thin, flexible tube that is guided down the esophagus, providing clearer images of the heart due to its closer proximity. Stress echocardiography combines an echocardiogram with exercise or medication to assess heart function under stress. Echocardiography is a cornerstone of modern cardiology, offering a safe and effective way to evaluate heart health.