Question 1

mfm told me today during echocardiogram that it looked like my daughter may have a small kink in her aorta. in her notes she referred to it as coarctation of the aorta, however, due to her positioning she couldnt really tell. is this deadly? 24w?

Accepted Answer

: It depends on the severity of narrowing/kinking/coarctation. The lesion is correctable with surgery. It would be prudent to consult a cardiologist for further evaluation. Visit this site for information:  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coarctation-of-the-aorta/symptoms-causes/syc-20352529
Wish you and your daughter good health.

Question 2

can you tell me what echocardiogram means?

Accepted Answer

Ultrasound of  heart: An echocardiogram is a type of ultrasound of the heart.  Just like an ultrasound of a pregnant woman shows a real-time picture of the fetus, an echocardiogram shows a real-time picture of the heart.  An echocardiogram can show if heart valves are abnormal, if the heart is thickened or dilated, how well the heart can pump, if there are any holes in the heart walls, and other heart problems.

Question 3

could you tell me what happens in a echocardiogram?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Echocardiography can be done with an external probe (ultrasound) that is lubricated with scanning gel and positioned at various points on your chest to view the heart. Better images can be obtained with trans esophageal echo which requires passage of a probe on a flexible scope like handle down your esophagus under sedation as an outpatient procedure.

Question 4

please tell me what to expect for an echocardiogram?

Accepted Answer

No pain: It doesn't hurt. There's no prep.  There's no radiation. It takes about 20 minutes.

Question 5

can you tell me how good of a test is an echocardiogram?

Accepted Answer

Echo: Echo shows cardiac structure and function. It gives a lot of information about the heart. It is a basic test used in cardiologic evaluation and is indicated in many conditions including ischemia.

Question 6

can someone tell me what does an echocardiogram consist of?

Accepted Answer

Echocardiogram: An echocardiogram uses sound waves to create images, or pictures, of the heart from outside the body. It is a safe and essentially painless test that yields a great deal of information about the heart structures.

Question 7

why would you check the diaphragm during echocardiogram?

Accepted Answer

Right under heart: You don't examine the diaphragm muscle during an echo study, but rather you routinely obtain certain images of the heart from a position of holding the imaging probe just under the diaphragm and "looking" up. The heart sits immediately on top of the diaphragm, so this view allows imaging of certain structures not seen well in other views.

Question 8

does an echocardiogram tell a doctor if you have blockages?

Accepted Answer

No: If you are talking about blockages in the coronary arteries, the answer is no. The echo looks at the gross structure and function of the heart and valves.

Question 9

is radiation used during an echocardiogram?

Accepted Answer

No: This is a big advantage over certain other tests.

Question 10

why is it loud and squeaky during an echocardiogram? what does the sound represent?

Accepted Answer

Doppler: That is the doppler part of the echocardiogram. The sound represents the flow of blood. You could get an idea of what the pictures look like by listening to that sound. How loud the sound is and whether it occurs during systole or diastole would give you a clue for istance, but most people interpreting the study just look at the images and don't pay much attention to those sounds.

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How to tell if there are abnormalities during a echocardiogram

A member asked:

Mfm told me today during echocardiogram that it looked like my daughter may have a small kink in her aorta. in her notes she referred to it as coarctation of the aorta, however, due to her positioning she couldnt really tell. is this deadly? 24w?

A member asked:

Can you tell me what echocardiogram means?

A member asked:

Could you tell me what happens in a echocardiogram?

A member asked:

Please tell me what to expect for an echocardiogram?

A member asked:

Can you tell me how good of a test is an echocardiogram?

A member asked:

Can someone tell me what does an echocardiogram consist of?

A member asked:

Why would you check the diaphragm during echocardiogram?

A member asked:

Does an echocardiogram tell a doctor if you have blockages?

A member asked:

Is radiation used during an echocardiogram?

A member asked:

Why is it loud and squeaky during an echocardiogram? what does the sound represent?

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