What is an echocardiogram and does it hurt to have it performed?
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound examination of the heart. This is basically the same kind of procedure as the ultrasound examination performed to check the growth of the fetus in a pregnant woman. The echocardiogram machine uses ultrasound waves and a computer to help make a movie of a patient’s heart and heart valve movements during the routine beating of the heart. This is usually done by placing a small instrument (transducer) on the chest wall along with some gel to help make the proper ultrasound connection. There is no pain associated with routine echocardiograms performed in this manner.
