Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE); Echocardiogram - transthoracic; Doppler ultrasound of the heart; Surface echo

There is no special preparation for the test. For a TEE, you will be asked not to eat or drink for several hours before the test.

You will be asked to remove your clothes from the waist up and lie on an examination table on your back. Electrodes will be placed on your chest to allow for an ECG to be done. A gel will be spread on your chest and then the transducer will be applied. You will feel a slight pressure on your chest from the transducer. You may be asked to breathe in a certain way or to roll over onto your left side.

A normal echocardiogram reveals normal heart valves and chambers and normal heart wall movement.

An abnormal echocardiogram can mean many things. Some abnormalities are very minor and do not pose significant risks. Other abnormalities are signs of very serious heart disease that will require further evaluation by a specialist. Therefore, it is very important to discuss the results of your echocardiogram in depth with your health care provider.

There are no known risks associated with this test.

Abnormal results may indicate heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy, pericardial effusion, or other heart abnormalities. This test may also be performed for the following conditions:

• Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
• Aortic dissection
• Aortic insufficiency
• Aortic stenosis
• Arrhythmias
• Arterial embolism
• Atrial fibrillation/flutter
• Atrial myxoma
• Atrial septal defect
• Cardiac tamponade
• Cardiomyopathy
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Hypertensive heart disease
• Mitral regurgitation; acute
• Mitral regurgitation; chronic
• Mitral stenosis
• Mitral valve prolapse
• Patent ductus arteriosus
• Patent foramen ovale
• Pericarditis; bacterial
• Pericarditis; constrictive
• Pericarditis; post-MI
• Peripartum cardiomyopathy
• Primary amyloidosis
• Pulmonary arterial hypertension
• Pulmonary valve stenosis
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy
• Right-sided heart failure
• Secondary systemic amyloidosis
• Senile cardiac amyloidosis
• Stroke
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Transposition of the great vessels
• Tricuspid regurgitation
• Ventricular septal defect

Connolly HM, Oh JK. Echocardiography. In: Bonow RO, Mann DL, Zipes DP, Libby P, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2011: chap 15.