What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram is a test that uses sound waves to take a picture of your child's heart. An echocardiogram is also called an echo. This is not to be confused with an EKG/ECG which is a test that looks at the electrical activity of the heart.
Why use an echocardiogram to image the pulmonary veins?
An echo can visualize the part of the pulmonary veins that are close to the heart. The echo can give information about the flow patterns in the pulmonary veins. These are called "Doppler gradients'. Changes in the gradients can provide information about disease progression. Sometimes gradients are hard to interpret due to heart anatomy or other factors.
An echo can also provide important information about the right side of the heart and how it is pumping. If there is significant pulmonary vein stenosis, pulmonary hypertension can develop. An echo can detect signs of pulmonary hypertension.
An echo can also provide important information about the right side of the heart and how it is pumping. If there is significant pulmonary vein stenosis, pulmonary hypertension can develop. An echo can detect signs of pulmonary hypertension.
Things to know about echocardiography
An echo is either done by putting a probe on the chest ( transthoracic) or by putting a probe down the esophagus (transesophageal). The most common method is by using a probe on the chest. Depending on the age of your child, they may need light sedation to aid in having your child stay still to take pictures of the pulmonary veins.
An echo is a safe and non-invasive test and is typically used for screening for pulmonary vein stenosis.
An echo is a safe and non-invasive test and is typically used for screening for pulmonary vein stenosis.
Echos
- An echo can give important information regarding the pulmonary veins and how the right heart is functioning.
- An echo may not help see the parts of veins that are further away from the heart.
- Flow can change in the lungs due to the stenosis and this can affect how big or small the gradients are- therefore , additional tests may be required to understand the severity of the disease.