Cardiac ultrasound: a direct view of your heart - safe and painless

Cardiac ultrasound, technically known as echocardiography, is one of the most important routine examinations performed by a cardiologist to assess the health of your heart. This modern and completely risk-free method allows us at Dr. Raphael Bruno's practice to observe your heart at work and obtain detailed information about its structure and function. A Cardiac ultrasound is painless, does not require any radiation exposure and immediately provides valuable results that form the basis for a precise diagnosis and successful treatment.

When is a cardiac ultrasound useful? Frequent medical questions

A Cardiac ultrasound is recommended by your cardiologist to get to the bottom of specific symptoms or to monitor the progression of known heart disease. It is the central imaging procedure for assessing the mechanics and anatomy of the heart.

A Cardiac ultrasound provides decisive answers for the following symptoms and diseases:

• Shortness of breath and reduced performance: To clarify whether heart failure (cardiac insufficiency) or a heart valve defect is the cause of the reduced exercise capacity.
• Heart murmur: If a conspicuous noise is detected when listening to the heart, the Cardiac ultrasound identify the exact cause, usually a problem with the heart valves.
• Chest pain: To assess whether there are structural changes to the heart, such as the consequences of a previous heart attack.
• Cardiac arrhythmia: To check whether the arrhythmia is caused by an underlying structural heart disease.
• High blood pressure (hypertension): To check whether the high pressure has already led to a thickening of the heart muscle.
• Dizziness or fainting spells (syncope): To rule out serious structural causes, such as a severe narrowing of the aortic valve.
• After a heart attack: To assess the extent of damage to the heart muscle and the remaining pumping function.
• Family history: For the early detection of familial heart disease.

Cardiac ultrasound: what your cardiologist learns about your heart health

With the Cardiac ultrasound Dr. Raphael Bruno obtains a comprehensive picture of your heart that goes far beyond the information provided by an ECG. He can assess whether your „heart engine“ is running smoothly and all its parts are intact.

Specifically, we learn from the investigation:

• How hard your heart is pumping: We measure and test the so-called ejection fraction (pumping function), which shows us whether your heart is pumping blood powerfully enough through the body.
• Whether your heart valves are working properly: We can see live whether the valves open fully and close tightly or whether there are stenoses or insufficiencies.
• Whether your heart muscle is thickened: Thickening can be a sign of prolonged overload, for example due to high blood pressure.
• How big your heart is: Deviations from the normal size can indicate various heart diseases.
• Whether all parts of the heart muscle are moving normally: After a heart attack, scars can remain that no longer move. Such wall movement disorders are Cardiac ultrasound to see clearly.

These detailed insights are crucial for making an accurate diagnosis and finding the right treatment for you.

Your cardiac ultrasound with us: a simple step-by-step procedure

We want you to come to your examination relaxed and without any worries. The cardiac ultrasound procedure is uncomplicated and usually takes no longer than 20 to 40 minutes.

1. Preparation: You free your upper body and lie down comfortably on an examination table, usually on your left side. This position improves the view of the heart.
2. ECG connection: Three ECG electrodes are attached to your chest to monitor your heartbeat during the examination.
3. Ultrasound gel: A clear, water-soluble gel is applied to your chest. This may feel a little cool, but is necessary in order to optimally guide the ultrasound waves into the body.
4. The investigation: Dr. Raphael Bruno places the small ultrasound transducer on various parts of your chest and moves it with gentle pressure. He sees the moving images of your heart live on the monitor. He may ask you to breathe in or out calmly or to hold your breath briefly.
5. Conclusion: After the examination, the gel is simply wiped off. This concludes the examination. Dr. Bruno will usually discuss the results with you immediately afterwards.

Cardiac ultrasound: Strain analysis

A findings report from Cardiac ultrasound contains many technical terms. The following table should help you to better understand some of the most important terms.

Frequently asked questions about cardiac ultrasound

Here you will find answers to common questions that patients ask us about cardiac ultrasound.

Why does the gel need to be applied to the breast?

Ultrasound waves cannot penetrate air well. The gel ensures complete contact between the transducer and your skin. Without the gel, the air between the skin and the transducer would reflect the ultrasound waves before they reach the heart and no clear image would be obtained.

Can you see „calcified veins“ in a cardiac ultrasound?

The Cardiac ultrasound cannot usually directly visualize the coronary arteries themselves. However, it shows the Consequences of relevant constrictions in these vessels: if a section of muscle is undersupplied, it moves less well. This impaired wall movement is clearly visible on ultrasound and is an indirect but very important indication of coronary heart disease.

My last heart ultrasound was a year ago, does it need to be repeated?

This depends on the medical issue. In the case of stable, known heart disease, check-ups are often recommended at annual or longer intervals. However, in the case of new symptoms, after an acute illness or to check a change in therapy, a new examination can also be absolutely sensible after a shorter period of time.

What is the difference to an MRI of the heart?

A Cardiac ultrasound is a quick, uncomplicated and universally available examination that provides excellent information on heart function and structure. A cardiac MRI (cardio-MRI) is a much more complex examination in a large tube, but it can provide even more detailed images in special cases, e.g. for the precise characterization of heart muscle tissue (inflammation, scars).

Do I have to stop taking my medication for the examination?

No, on the contrary. Please take your medication as usual, unless your doctor has expressly instructed you otherwise for a special examination (e.g. stress echocardiography). It is important to assess your heart function under your normal everyday conditions.

I am pregnant. Is a cardiac ultrasound safe for my baby?

Yes, the Cardiac ultrasound is absolutely safe and harmless for mother and child. As the examination does not involve X-rays, it can be carried out on pregnant women without any concerns if there is a medical necessity.

Why does the room have to be darkened for the examination?

A slight darkening of the room helps the examining physician to better recognize the fine grey tones and colour nuances on the monitor. This improves diagnostic accuracy, as even subtle changes in the heart muscle or on the valves become more visible.

Can I drive after a cardiac ultrasound?

Yes, after a normal Cardiac ultrasound (TTE), you are not impaired in any way and can immediately resume your normal activities, including driving. No medication is administered that could affect your ability to drive.

My doctor used the word „Doppler“. What was meant by that?

Doppler sonography is a special technique within cardiac ultrasound. It measures the speed and direction of blood flow. With color Doppler, the blood flow is displayed in color, which is crucial for the assessment of heart valve defects or congenital defects.

What happens if something abnormal is found during a cardiac ultrasound?

An abnormal finding in the Cardiac ultrasound is initially important diagnostic information. Dr. Raphael Bruno will discuss the results with you in detail and in an understandable way. He will explain to you what the findings mean and what further steps, whether additional diagnostics or targeted therapy, are now advisable.

A clear picture for your heart health

The Cardiac ultrasound is an elegant, safe and extremely informative method that gives us valuable insights into the health of your most important organ. In our practice, this examination is a central component of a thorough cardiological assessment. If a cardiac ultrasound has been recommended for you or you would like clarity about the condition of your heart, please make an appointment.