The cardiology exams

THE TRANS-OESOPHAGUS DOPPLER ULTRASOUND OF THE HEART

- Principles of functioning
- Concrete achievement
- Results
- Indications and complications

An ultrasound of the heart allows the cardiologist to perfectly see the whole tissues which constitutes the heart as well as its kinetics.

The heart is an organ localized in the chest, very near anatomically to the oesophagus which is the duct allowing food to go from the mouth to the stomach. The Doppler, frequently coupled to the ultrasound, permits to measure the flows of blood in the different cavities of the heart.

The trans-oesophagus Doppler ultrasound of the heart consists in placing a probe into the oesophagus and to look at the heart. This technique permits to get high quality pictures.

It is a laborious but non painful exam, permitting the cardiologist to give you a lot of information concerning your heart.

PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONING

Ultrasound and Doppler are based on the use of the ultrasounds.

An ultrasound is emitted by the ultrasound probe an then it comes up against the heart which sends back the ultrasound. This one will then be perceived by the probe which then passes on a picture.

As the speed of the ultrasounds is very high, it is possible to get several pictures per second (about 24) which permits to have mobile pictures of the heart.

The Doppler is also based on the same principle, and can function with colour (colour Doppler) or not (pulsed or continuous Doppler).

Thus, the Doppler permits to analyse the speed of the blood flow.

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File last reviewed on dec 18, 2011