Echocardiogram

What is an Echocardiogram?

An Echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart which is carried out by a cardiac technician.  It is sometimes just called an ‘Echo’.  Ultrasound is a very high frequency sound which you cannot hear, but it can be emitted and detected by special machines.  The scan can give accurate pictures of the heart muscle, the heart chambers and structures within the heart such as the valves.

The amount of ultrasound which echoes back depends on the density of the tissue the sound has hit.  So the different structures send back different echoes.  For example, ultrasound travels freely through fluid so there is little echo from blood in heart chambers.  But, heart valves are dense tissue so ultrasound waves hitting a valve will echo back clearly.

The echoes are detected by a probe and are sent to the echocardiogram machine.  They are displayed as a picture on the monitor.  The picture is constantly updated so the scan can show movement as well as structure.  (For example, the valves of a heart opening and closing).  The operator moves the probe around over the skin surface to get views from different angles.  Some abnormalities can be seen quite clearly.  For example, damaged heart valves, thickened heart muscle, some congenital heart defects etc.

Echoes at Syston

We now have a weekly Echocardiogram service available at Syston Health Centre for all patients registered at a Leicestershire County and Rutland GP Practice.  The service is run and managed by the local Primary Care Trust and is provided by InHealth.  InHealth are a leading provider of Diagnostic and Imaging services.  They work exclusively in the UK and predominantly within the NHS.  Patients can access this service through a direct referral from their GP to InHealth.  By having a directly accessible service it ensures the waiting time is minimal and with results being available promptly patients can be confident that they will be assessed quickly ensuring further diagnosis and treatment can take place without delay.

Further information on Echoes is available on the InHealth website: www.inhealthgroup.com/patients.php

If you’ve been referred and have any questions,or would like further information please contact Cory Joy at InHealth on 0845 603 247