Echocardiogram at Manchester Institute of Health & Performance (MIHP)

FAQs

• What's the difference between an echo and an ECG?

  An echocardiogram looks at your heart's structure, such as its valves, and how well it's pumping. An ECG (electrocardiogram) instead records your heart's rhythm, rate and electrical activity. They're different tests that give your doctor different information.

• Will I be awake during my echo?

  For a standard transthoracic echo, yes, you'll be awake throughout. For a TOE, you'll be given a sedative beforehand, so you'll be drowsy rather than awake.

• How long will the appointment take?

  A standard scan usually takes somewhere between 30 minutes and an hour, though a TOE can take longer, up to around 90 minutes. You may also need to stay a little longer afterwards to be monitored.

• Can I drive home afterwards?

  Usually, yes, for most types of echo. The exception is if you've been sedated, such as for a TOE, in which case you'll need someone else to drive you and shouldn't drive yourself for 24 hours.

• Does an echocardiogram use radiation?

  No. An echocardiogram uses sound waves, not radiation, which is different from tests like X-rays and CT scans.

• What can an echocardiogram diagnose?

  It can help diagnose conditions such as heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy (a condition affecting your heart muscle), infections of the heart valves, or a bulge in a major blood vessel near your heart. Your doctor will explain what your particular result shows.