Have you been asked to have a heart scan? Let's talk about this echocardiogram!

When your doctor said, "Let's do a heart scan," you were a little scared, weren't you? When we think of 'scan', we think of big machines and sometimes painful tests. But don't be scared. The most common type of heart scan, the echocardiogram, is a very simple, painless test. Let's take a look at what it really is, why it's done, and how it's done.

What is a Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE)?

Simply put, a Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE) is an ultrasound scan that takes a series of images, like a video, of your heart. You may have heard of scans of pregnant women's babies. This is also a test that uses sound waves.

The word 'transthoracic' means "through the chest." This means that the test is done across the surface of your chest. This is the most common and first type of echocardiogram.

This allows the doctor to see a clear picture of how your heart is beating, the four chambers of the heart, the four valves in the heart, and the large blood vessels that connect to the heart. Most importantly, no radiation is used.

Why is the doctor asking me to do this TTE test?

There are several reasons why a doctor might ask you to have this test. There are three main reasons why this is done.

What exactly does this scan look at in the heart?

Imagine a mechanic checking a car's engine. With this scan, the doctor can see a lot about the functioning of your heart.

• Whether the heart valves are working properly: The heart has four valves that act like doors. These allow blood to flow in only one direction. This checks whether these valves are opening and closing properly, or whether blood is leaking backward.
• How well the heart pumps blood: Your heart is like a pump that pumps blood throughout your body. It measures how efficiently that pump is working.
• Blood flow speed and pressure inside the heart: This gives an idea of ​​the speed and pressure of blood flowing through the chambers and valves of the heart.
• The size and shape of the heart chambers: You can check whether the walls of the heart are thickened or the chambers are enlarged.

What diseases can be detected by TTE test?

This simple test can detect many serious heart-related conditions early. That is its greatest value.

What is the difference between TTE and TEE?

You may have heard of another one called TEE. Both of these are types of echo tests.

• TTE (Transthoracic Echocardiogram): This is the most common test we're talking about, performed on the surface of the chest . In this, nothing is put inside the body.
• TEE (Transesophageal Echocardiogram): This involves inserting a small tube (endoscope) through the mouth and passing it down the esophagus to take pictures of the heart. Because the esophagus is very close to the heart, it can sometimes show things that are not clear on a TTE.

Do I need to prepare anything before the test?

This is the best part. You don't need to do anything special to prepare for this test.

• You can eat and drink water normally.
• If you have any medications you take daily, you can take them as usual.

So you don't need to worry about this test or change your daily routine.

Okay, now tell me what happens when you do the test...

This test usually takes about an hour, and during that time, a few very simple things happen.

1. Lying on a bed: You will be asked to lie on a bed in an examination room.

2. Electrodes: Small stickers are placed on your chest in several places. These are used to record your heartbeat during the test, similar to an ECG.

3. Applying a gel: Next, the sonographer will apply a special gel to your chest. It will feel a little cold. This gel helps the sound waves travel through your skin better.

4. Scanning: Next, a small device (transducer) that looks like a microphone is placed over the gel and moved back and forth across the chest. This device sends sound waves to the heart and records the waves that come back.

5. Changing positions: Sometimes, you can say things like turning to your left, taking a deep breath, and holding it for a while. This will help you see the different parts of your heart more clearly.

That's all that happens. You won't feel any pain. Sometimes, if you want to see the blood flowing through your heart clearly, a small cannula may be inserted into a vein in your arm and a special liquid (contrast dye) may be injected. This isn't done for everyone.

When the test is over, the gel will be wiped off and the stickers will be removed. After that, you can go straight home. There is no problem even if you drive yourself.

Is there any risk in this? Will it hurt?

Again, there is no risk in this TTE test.

• This does not use radioactive substances like X-rays.
• The body is not electrocuted.
• If you have to inject the contrast dye mentioned earlier, you won't feel any pain during the scan, except for a slight stinging sensation when the blood is drawn.

Therefore, this is a very safe test.

When will I receive the report?

The technician who performs the test takes the scan images and sends them to a specialist doctor (cardiologist). That doctor analyzes the images and creates a report. It usually takes a day or two for the doctor who ordered the test to receive this report.

Then your doctor will bring you in and explain everything in the report, including how your heart is doing, whether there are any problems, and what you need to do next.

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