Echocardiogram Usage

An echocardiogram may be used to:

• Evaluate a heart murmur

• Diagnose valve conditions

• Find changes in the heart's structure

• Assess motion of the chamber walls and damage to the heart muscle after a heart attack

• Assess how different parts of the heart work in people with chronic heart disease

• Determine if fluid is collecting around the heart

• Identify growths in the heart

• Assess and monitor congenital defects

• Test blood flow through the heart

• Assess heart or major blood vessel damage caused by trauma

• Test heart function and diagnose heart and lungs problems in very ill patients

• Assess chest pain

• Look for blood clots within heart chambers