Are echocardiogram with contrast safe? what does it show? how long does the test take? is it only larger hospitals that do this? thanks in advance!

Contrast echo: This is a safe procedure. The bubble contrast, either from agitated saline or commercial products provide better imaging (ultrasound physics). This is turn allows for a better assessment of the heart's function and structure, commonly performed to look for shunts between the chambers of the heart that should not be there. Mainly done at hospitalized, but some clinics do it to. Not a long proc.