How does an ECG differ from an EchoCG? When should you do an ultrasound of the heart? 

The heart begins to beat long before we are born. Surprising and even magical, right? However, this means that this organ works longer and harder than others. And not only the quality of our life, but also life itself depends on how carefully we pay attention to his condition!

More than 17 million people die every year from heart and vascular diseases. It has been proven that 80% of premature heart attacks and strokes could be prevented!

Fortunately, most cardiovascular diseases are successfully diagnosed thanks to modern innovative equipment and the professionalism of doctors. And as you know, establishing an accurate diagnosis means taking an important step towards healing.

One of the most informative and safe studies is cardiac echocardiography (EchoCG) or, in other words, ultrasound of the heart.

1 ECHO-KG in "MedicCity"

2 Echocardiography at MedicCity

3 Ultrasound of the heart at MedicCity

The essence of echocardiography

Ultrasound of the heart is the process of studying all the main parameters and structures of this organ using ultrasound.

When exposed to electrical energy, the echocardiograph transducer emits high-frequency sound that travels through the structures of the heart, is reflected from them, captured by the same transducer and transmitted to the computer. He, in turn, analyzes the received data and displays it on the monitor in the form of a two- or three-dimensional image.

In recent years, echocardiography has been increasingly used for preventive purposes, which makes it possible to identify cardiac abnormalities at an early stage.

What does an ultrasound of the heart show:

• heart size;
• integrity, structure and thickness of its walls;
• sizes of the cavities of the atria and ventricles;
• contractility of the heart muscle;
• operation and structure of valves;
• condition of the pulmonary artery and aorta;
• pulmonary artery pressure level (to diagnose pulmonary hypertension, which can occur with pulmonary embolism, for example, when blood clots from the veins of the legs enter the pulmonary artery);
• direction and speed of cardiac blood flow;
• condition of the outer shell, pericardium.

1 ECHO-KG in "MedicCity"

2 Echocardiography at MedicCity

3 Ultrasound of the heart at MedicCity

In what cases can a heart ultrasound be prescribed for a child?

A heart ultrasound may be prescribed to a child when:

• cases of loss of consciousness for a short period of time have been recorded;
• there is a loss of the child’s ability to suck milk from the breast without obvious reasons;
• shortness of breath and breathing problems occur, provided that the child does not have ARVI;
• there is rapid cooling of the hands under normal conditions;
• a bluish tint of the skin around the lips appeared;
• There is a pulsation of the vein in the neck.

A pediatrician can also prescribe an ultrasound for a child to study the functioning of the heart if he detects the occurrence of an extraneous sound at the moment of myocardial contraction.

In adolescence, this procedure is also prescribed, since during this period of time there is strong growth of the body, and the heart muscle in some cases simply does not have time to grow.

Who is prescribed echocardiography?

The following are routinely examined:

• infants - if congenital defects are suspected;
• teenagers are a time of intensive growth;
• pregnant women with existing chronic diseases - to decide on the method of childbirth;
• professional athletes - to monitor the state of the cardiovascular system.

An echocardiogram is required if:

• anomalies of the endocardium and valve apparatus:
• heart tumors;
• arrhythmias;
• threat of a heart attack or a heart attack;
• IHD;
• failures of cardiac activity due to various intoxications;
• attacks of angina pectoris;
• pericarditis of various origins;
• hypertension;
• heart failure.

And also in the process of treating heart diseases, before and after cardiac surgery.

When is it prescribed?

Ultrasound examination (echocardiography or EchoCG) is an informative and easy-to-use method, without which it is difficult to imagine diagnostics in modern cardiology. With its help, a sonologist (better known as an “uzist” or “ultrasound specialist”) can assess in real time the condition and functions of the organ and its surrounding tissues. Non-invasive diagnostics determines structural abnormalities and changes that can appear in various pathologies and developmental defects.

Thanks to its informativeness and high safety, cardiac ultrasound has become widely used in the diagnosis of cardiac diseases in adults and children. With its help, diseases of the myocardium, heart valves, pericardium, large vessels, including the aorta and pulmonary trunk, as well as other structural units of the cardiovascular and related systems are identified. Other benefits of such research include:

• lack of difficult-to-implement training recommendations;
• the ability to monitor current processes over time;
• affordable cost and high speed of execution;
• availability of mobile equipment for diagnosing urgent cases.

A referral for echocardiography is given to adult patients by a general practitioner or cardiologist, and to children by a pediatrician or pediatric cardiologist. The examination can be carried out for preventive purposes, in the presence of risk factors for the development of cardiac pathologies, for direct indications in the presence of obvious symptoms or diagnosed disorders.

Indications for use

The main advantage of echocardiography is the ability to diagnose pathologies even before the appearance of their first symptoms. But in general, indications for cardiac ultrasound include:

• complaints of shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, swelling;
• cases of loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat;
• difficulty breathing, blue fingertips and lips during physical activity;
• severe arrhythmia, so-called chest pain;
• detection of noises during auscultation;
• diseases with a risk of damage to the cardiovascular system, for example, rheumatism;
• often high blood pressure, diagnosed hypertension;
• the presence of changes in the electrocardiogram, for example, myocardial hypertrophy;
• suspicion of congenital defects in children, etc.

In some cases, echocardiography is performed once to confirm or refute existing suspicions, in others repeatedly at certain intervals to reliably track changes.

In addition, thanks to the active development of medical equipment and the expansion of its functionality for cardiac ultrasound, the indications for ultrasound may also be much wider. Thus, many models of modern devices are capable of combining classical ultrasound with Doppler ultrasound. This allows the specialist, during diagnosis, to track the direction and speed of blood flow in the chambers, which is important for a comprehensive assessment of the functioning of the organ and determination of disorders in its valve apparatus.

Contraindications

Along with safety and ease of implementation, another advantageous difference of ultrasound examination is the absence of absolute contraindications. In practice, specialists note only the relative difficulties they encounter when conducting diagnostics. Usually this:

• violations of the integrity of the skin in the area where the sensor is located (wounds, external manifestations of dermatological disorders, etc.);
• pronounced hair growth in the chest area;
• open injuries and deformations of the chest;
• extreme obesity, significant accumulation of fatty deposits in the examined area;
• performing ultrasound of the heart in newborns, etc.

There are no side effects or complications when performing ultrasound diagnostics. The safety of the method allows it to be used several times a week. There are no contraindications for it during pregnancy, since there is no threat to the health of the expectant mother and fetus.

But it is worth considering that some patients, in extremely rare cases, report an allergic reaction to the gel used for smooth sliding and better contact of the sensor with the body. In general, gels for ultrasound diagnostics are hypoallergenic, but exceptions to the rules may still exist. Therefore, when visiting a sonologist, it is better to immediately warn about a possible reaction. You can avoid it by replacing the gel, washing the examined area with soap immediately after diagnosis, or pre-applying baby cream to the skin, which will prevent the gel composition from penetrating the pores.

When is a cardiac ultrasound performed?

Indications for cardiac ultrasound are:

• alarming changes in health (increased or interrupted heartbeat, shortness of breath, swelling, weakness, prolonged fever, chest pain, cases of loss of consciousness);
• changes detected in the last ECG;
• increased blood pressure;
• heart murmurs;
• cardiomyopathy;
• manifestations of coronary heart disease;
• heart defects (congenital, acquired);
• pericardial diseases;
• lung diseases.

In what cases is manipulation prescribed?

The procedure is prescribed when:

• there is pain in the chest area;
• have breathing problems when doing physical activity;
• swelling of the extremities is often observed, which is not related to the kidneys;
• Arterial hypertension is stable;
• the woman is pregnant, but has previously had heart problems.

Important! In addition to the indications for the procedure listed above, manipulation is also recommended for those people who have suffered a heart attack or stroke.

Preparation for cardiac echocardiography

Ultrasound of the heart does not require special preparations. On the eve of the procedure, the patient is free to eat as usual and perform normal activities. The only thing that will be asked of him is to give up alcohol, caffeine-containing drinks, and strong tea.

If the patient is constantly taking medications, this must be warned in advance so that the results of the study are not distorted.

For each subsequent ultrasound of the heart, you should take a transcript of the previous one. This will help the doctor see the process over time and draw the right conclusions about your condition.

The examination itself takes from 15 to 30 minutes.

The patient, undressed to the waist, is lying on his back or side. A special gel is applied to his chest, ensuring easier sliding of the sensor over the area under study (the patient does not experience discomfort).

The specialist performing echocardiography has access to any areas of the heart muscle - this is achieved by changing the angle of the sensor.

Sometimes standard ultrasound of the heart does not provide complete information about the functioning of the heart, so other types of echocardiography are used. For example, fat on the chest of an obese person can interfere with the passage of ultrasound waves. In this case, transesophageal echocardiography is indicated. As the name suggests, the ultrasound probe is inserted directly into the esophagus, as close to the left atrium as possible.

And to screen cardiac function under stress, the patient may be prescribed stress echocardiography. This study differs from the usual one in that it is performed with a load on the heart, achieved by physical exercise, special medications or under the influence of electrical impulses. It is used primarily to identify myocardial ischemia and the risk of complications of coronary artery disease, as well as for certain heart defects to confirm the need for surgery.

What is electrocardiography and the features of its implementation?

The principle of this examination method is based on recording electronic pulses of the heart that occur during myocardial contraction. The pulses that have arisen are read by the cardiograph, displaying them in the form of a graphic curve on special paper.

Order of conduct:

• Before the procedure, all jewelry should be removed;
• Expose the chest, ankles and hands;
• Lie horizontally and relax;
• Before applying the electrodes, the nurse should treat exposed skin with a cotton pad, which is moistened with water for better conductivity of the impulses.
• Afterwards, 4 electrodes of different colors are applied to the limbs in a certain sequence;
• They are fixed on the chest using suction cups. The number of the latter should be 6 pieces;
• The electrodes are connected to the device, then they are registered.

A cardiogram is necessary when detecting any heart disease; it is also prescribed during a preventive examination.

Using this examination, you can identify such disturbances in the functioning of the heart as:

• Heart rhythm disturbances, for example, tachycardia, arrhythmia, extrasystole;
• Impulse conduction disorder, for example, antiventricular block;
• Myocardial nutritional disorders, for example, heart attack, ischemia;
• Congenital or acquired diseases, for example, disorders in the structure of the fibrous ring, valves, chord;
• Myocardial thickening, for example, atrial ventricular hypertrophy.

Persons who have reached the age of 40 years old must undergo an ECG every year. This will help to identify violations in time at the initial stage.

This study is quite informative, however, despite this, to clarify the diagnosis it is necessary to perform an ultrasound of the heart.

The study is very effective and indicative, but despite this, to clarify the condition of the myocardium, it is necessary to resort to ultrasound diagnostics of the heart.

Pros of the procedure

Among the undeniable advantages are the painlessness of the procedure, safety, and the ability to obtain reliable data. In addition, another advantage is that the procedure does not take much time.

Also, the procedure has no contraindications, and due to the mobility of the device, diagnostics can be carried out outside the clinic.

Disadvantages of the procedure:

The disadvantages of the procedure include the following:

• short recording;
• inability to record heart murmurs;
• impossibility of diagnosing heart defects and various tumors;
• To obtain reliable data, the procedure should be carried out at rest or under load.

Decoding EchoCG

After the examination, the doctor draws up a conclusion. First, a visual picture with the presumed diagnosis is described. The second part of the study protocol indicates the patient’s individual indicators and their compliance with standards.

Decoding the data obtained is not a final diagnosis, since the study can be done not by a cardiologist, but by an ultrasound diagnostic specialist.

It is the cardiologist, based on the collected medical history, examination results, interpretation of tests and data from all prescribed studies, who can draw accurate conclusions about your condition and prescribe the necessary treatment!

Why is cardiac ultrasound such a common procedure?

Ultrasound examination of the heart is prescribed by cardiologists because:

• this study is harmless (ultrasound waves do not have a negative effect on health);
• there are few contraindications to manipulation;
• the procedure takes a minimum amount of time;
• the cost of the research is affordable;
• the procedure allows you to control processes in dynamics;
• Thanks to clear visualization of the heart, it becomes possible to accurately determine the presence of pathology and its danger.

Today, this procedure can be completed either as prescribed by a doctor or independently by registering at a private clinic that the patient trusts.

EchoCG norm: what some parameters indicate

There is a range of normal values ​​for one or another cardiac ultrasound indicator for adults (in children the norms are different and directly depend on age).

Thus, along with other important parameters, echocardiography helps to obtain information about the ejection fraction of the heart - this indicator determines the efficiency of the work performed by the heart with each beat.

Ejection fraction (EF) is the percentage of blood volume ejected into the vessels from the heart ventricle during each contraction. If there were 100 ml of blood in the ventricle, and after the heart contracted, 55 ml entered the aorta, it is considered that the ejection fraction was 55%.

When the term ejection fraction is heard, we are usually talking about the left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, since it is the left ventricle that ejects blood into the systemic circulation.

A healthy heart, even at rest, pumps more than half of the blood from the left ventricle into the vessels with each beat. As the ejection fraction decreases, heart failure develops.

The normal left ventricular ejection fraction for an adult is 55-70%. A value of 40-55% indicates that EF is below normal. An ejection fraction of less than 40% and even lower ejection fractions indicate heart failure in the patient.

So which study is better: ECG or ultrasound of the heart?

Ultrasound and ECG are two diagnostic methods that are used in cardiology to diagnose problems in the functioning of the heart muscle. Based on the results, the specialist assesses the degree of damage to the organ and selects the most appropriate treatment method.

The data obtained from both studies have equally high information content, but the results of the ultrasound examination provide a more meaningful picture. That is why, before conducting any examination, you should visit a cardiologist, who, based on the patient’s complaints, will be able to determine the most appropriate examination method. In most cases, an ECG is considered the primary procedure, because it allows you to get a general picture of the condition of the heart muscle. If the cardiologist does not like the resulting picture, then he can prescribe a more accurate procedure, namely an ultrasound.

Both methods are independent of each other and it is not possible to determine which one is better, because both of them must be completed periodically if there are complaints about the work of the body. Thus, timely detection of heart disease will help to avoid more serious consequences.

Is cardiac echocardiography safe?

During this study, there is no radiation or other load on the organ. Therefore, if necessary, it can be prescribed even several times a week.

This study is characterized by the absence of complications and side effects.

EchoCG does not harm either the expectant mother or the fetus during pregnancy.

Limitations for the procedure may include inflammatory diseases of the skin of the chest, chest deformities and some other reasons.

How to prepare for an ultrasound of a child's heart

Children, like adults, do not require special preparation. It is enough to feed the baby so that he behaves calmly during the procedure. It is allowed and even desirable to carry out the procedure during sleep. Before rocking the baby to sleep, you need to put on a vest that allows access to the body from the front.

How to prepare for cardiac echocardiography if your baby is not feeling well

If the diagnosis is scheduled for hours when the baby is not sleeping, or it was not possible to put him to sleep, you need to prepare a pacifier or bottle with food to distract the child from the doctor’s manipulations. During the echocardiography, he will not experience any unpleasant sensations; only the presence and touch of a stranger can confuse or cause tears. Therefore, equipment may be required to distract from the frightening factor.

How to do an ultrasound of the heart at the MedicCity clinic?

It is advisable for every person to have an echocardiogram at least once in their life. The fairly low cost of cardiac ultrasound is another reason to prefer this particular diagnostic method.

At MedicCity you can undergo all types of cardiac diagnostics - ECG, EchoCG, bicycle ergometry, HOLTER, ABPM, etc.

Just type in a search engine: “Ultrasound of the heart, Savelovskaya metro station, Dynamo metro station.” Or call us at: +7 (495) 604-12-12.

The doctors of our multidisciplinary clinic will do everything possible to relieve your heart pain!

What is the difference between ECHO and ultrasound of the heart?

Not everyone knows how to do an ultrasound of the heart, or how ECHO differs from ultrasound. In essence, echocardiography and ultrasound are the same thing. Ultrasound emanating from the equipment's sensors is reflected from the tissue and captured by the device for subsequent registration and translation into an image. The name echocardiography was not chosen by chance, because these signals are formed according to the echo principle, reflecting differently from tissues with different acoustic densities.