Cardiology

What is an Echocardiogram?

Echocardiography, also called an echo test or heart ultrasound, is a test that takes “moving pictures” of the heart with sound waves. You don’t have to stay in the hospital. It’s not surgery and doesn’t hurt. How is it done? Echo tests are done by trained sonographers. You may have your test done in your doctor’s office, an emergency room, an operating room, a hospital clinic or a hospital room.

• You’ll lie on a bed on your left side or back.
• The sonographer will put special jelly on a probe and move it over your chest area.