Echocardiogram (Heart Scan)

Provided by ‘FRZ Sono-Tech Ltd.’

Transthoracic Echocardiogram with full report.

Personalised service by a NHS Senior Cardiac Physiologist Scanning Privately!

A full Consultation with your Cardiac Physiologist is included in the below price.

We will give you a report of your findings, but the images will only be sent to your NHS GP or Medical Clinic (with your consent).

What is an Echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram, or “echo”, is a scan used to look at your heart and nearby blood vessels.

It’s a type of ultrasound scan – a small probe is used to send out high-frequency sound waves that create echoes when they bounce off different parts of the body.

These echoes are picked up by the probe and turned into a moving image on a monitor while the scan is carried out.

An echocardiogram may be requested by a heart specialist (cardiologist) or any doctor who thinks you might have a problem with your heart, including your GP.

Why would I need an Echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram can help diagnose and monitor certain heart conditions by checking the structure of the heart and surrounding blood vessels. This occurs by analysing how blood flows through the heart and assessing the pumping chambers of the heart.

An echocardiogram can help detect:

• Damage to your heart after a heart attack – When the blood supply to the heart was suddenly blocked during a heart attack, an echocardiogram can see how much damage has occurred to your heart and repeated scans can be done over time to check if it is improving.
• Heart Failure – This is when the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure. The echocardiogram can show how badly weakened the heart wall muscles are and the exact pressure at which the heart is pumping. Repeated scans over time can show if this is improving or worsening.
• Hypertension (High blood pressure) – This can cause damage to the heart by making the wall muscles become thickened and eventually causing heart enlargement.
• Heart Valve problems – Sometimes the heart valves can be too ‘tight’ and prevent the heart from pumping adequate blood around the body, or they may be too ‘leaky’ and cause the heart to become enlarged.
• Congenital Heart Disease – Many birth defects can prevent the heart from functioning normally.
• Cardiomyopathy – The heart walls become thickened and enlarged due to various causes, including viral and alcohol overuse.
• Endocarditis – An infection of the heart valves which can cause permanant damage.

How do I prepare for an Echocardiogram?

On the day of the echocardiogram, eat and drink as you normally would. Take all of your medications at the usual times, as prescribed by your doctor.

What happens during a Transthoracic Echocardiogram?

You will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist up. Your cardiac physiologist (sonographer) will place three electrodes (small, flat, sticky patches) on your chest. The electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph monitor (ECG) that charts your heart’s electrical activity.

The sonographer will ask you to lie on your left side on an exam table. He or she will place a wand (called a sound-wave transducer) on several areas of your chest. The wand will have a small amount of gel on the end, which will not harm your skin. The gel is used to help produce clearer pictures.

Sounds are part of the Doppler signal. You may or may not hear the sounds during the test. You may be asked to change positions several times during the exam in order for the sonographer to take pictures of different areas of your heart. You may also be asked to hold your breath at times during the exam.

You should feel no major discomfort during the test, although you may feel coolness from the gel on the transducer and a slight pressure of the transducer on your chest.

What are the risks of an Echocardiogram?

There are no risks from an echocardiogram. Even if you are pregnant, you are able to safely have this examination.

Your Senior Cardiac Physiologist – Ms. Muge Pancar

I have been a cardiac physiologist for 9 years now.

I started my training in Whittington hospital as a trainee cardio-respiratory physiologist. Having completed 3 and a half years in this field, I found myself becoming much more interested in cardiology and decided to focus my attention only on cardiology.

I have quite extensive experience in cardiac physiology, both invasive and non invasive procedures, and I have been part of the sports medicine research group for almost 6 years with sudden cardiac death in young people.

Currently, I am doing my masters in echocardiography at the British society of of Echocardiography, to extend my knowledge and experience in this field.

To relax, I enjoy dancing and partaking in many physical activities, such as running, hiking, swimming e.t.c. I also like to curl up with nice movie or good book.

Availability:

Thursday morning

Specialist Area:

Echocardiography.