Echocardiography
Echocardiography means ultrasonography of the heart. By using sound waves, the structure (anatomy) of the heart, contraction (function) of the heart and any structural anomalies can be detected. Thanks to Doppler echocardiographic examination, stenosis in the heart valves and large vessels and insufficiencies in the valves can be determined.
Is echo painful or harmful?
Safe, harmless. Although it is a painless test, young children may sometimes cry. In order for an optimum test to be performed, patients must remain in a lying position quietly for about half an hour. Toys, different colored objects and cartoon videos are used to calm restless and crying children. However, patients who cannot be calmed are given oral sedatives.
What type of echocardiographic examinations can be performed?
Different echocardiographic examinations can be performed. During echocardiographic examination, M-mode (one-dimensional), 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional imaging, Doppler and color Doppler methods can be used. Contrast echocardiography can be applied if necessary, especially during transthoracic and transesophageal echo.
Transthoracic echo
It is an echocardiographic examination performed through the chest wall. This process takes about 30 minutes and is a painless and simple method. It is done by placing a gel-covered probe on the chest wall. A moving image of the heart is taken by reflecting the echoes obtained from the reflection of high frequency (ultrasound) waves sent from the probe to the heart, hitting the heart structures, onto the monitor.
Fetal echo
It is the examination of the heart of the unborn baby (fetus) by echocardiography. It is done by placing the gel-coated probe on the mother's abdominal wall. It is usually around the 16th-20th week of pregnancy. It is done after weeks. It does not cause any harm to the mother or the fetus.
Routine gynecological checks are performed if there is a problem with the heart of the fetus and if there is a family history of heart disease (such as a mother, father or siblings with heart disease).
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Fetal echocard Thanks to iography, the baby's heart pathology can be determined in advance. If a pathology that requires early intervention is detected, treatments can be performed while in the womb. If serious heart pathologies that may require treatment (medication, invasive cardiac catheterization or surgery) are detected immediately after birth, the patient can be given birth in a center specialized in that field, so that the best conditions can be created for the baby and the center can be prepared for the child. In patients with severe and complex heart anomalies for which there is no chance of treatment, the family is informed that it will be appropriate to terminate the pregnancy if early diagnosis is made. 90% of severe heart anomalies can be detected by fetal echocardiography. However, stenosis in the heart valves, stenosis in the large vessels (mild stenosis), small atrial or ventricular septal defects (small holes) may be overlooked and cannot be detected
Transesophageal echo< br />
The study is performed by placing a special echo probe into the esophagus. Since the probe placed here is closer to the heart, much clearer images are obtained compared to echocardiography performed from the chest wall. However, since deep anesthesia is usually required in children, special preparation is required before it is performed.
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