Imaging (ultrasound)
Our team of specialist sonographers will use the latest 2D and 3D echocardiography technology to produce images of your heart.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram or ‘echo’ is a scan that uses sound waves (ultrasound) to produce pictures of your heart. It’s a completely painless test that doesn’t have any side effects and doesn’t use radioactivity. An echocardiogram tells us how well your heart is pumping and whether your heart valves are working properly, but it doesn’t indicate whether or not you have angina.
Transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE)
A transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) is a specialised echocardiogram where ultrasound pictures are taken using a probe that sits in the food pipe. The pictures taken using TOE can be much more detailed than regular echo pictures as the probe is much closer to your heart.
Stress echocardiogram
A stress echocardiogram or ‘stress echo’ is a test we use frequently to diagnose and assess angina (a pain associated with coronary artery disease). It does this by looking to see whether there is an adequate blood supply to your heart muscle when your heart rate is increased. We also occasionally use stress echocardiograms to assess other conditions such as valvular heart disease.
Other specialised imaging carried out by the department includes contrast echocardiography and bubble saline echocardiography.