An echocardiogram is a procedure that uses ultrasound waves to create moving pictures of the heart structures, and estimate blood flow and pressures within the heart. A small device called a transducer is placed on the chest wall. The transducer both sends the sound waves and collects the “echoes” that bounce back from the heart. A computer uses this information to form the moving pictures of the heart called an echocardiogram. It can also evaluate blood flow and pressures within the heart with a special technique called doppler echocardiography.
