ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY (ECG or EKG)
Electrocardiography is a commonly used, non-invasive procedure for recording electrical changes in the heart. The record, which is called an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), shows the series of waves that relate to the electrical impulses, which occur during each beat of the heart. The results are printed on paper or displayed on a monitor.
Electrocardiography is a starting point for detecting many cardiac problems. It is used routinely in physical examinations and for monitoring the patient's condition during and after surgery, as well as during intensive care. It is the basic measurement used for tests such as exercise tolerance and is used to evaluate causes of symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations.
An echocardiogram is a diagnostic examination of a person's heart. Doctors use high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to look at the size, shape and motion of the heart. In addition to the standard test, there are specialized echocardiograms:
Stress echocardiogram – performed during a cardiac stress test to assess cardiac motion when increased demands are placed on the heart.
Transesophageal echocardiogram – combines the ultrasound test with an endoscopy. A thin tube with a transducer on the end is inserted through the mouth and into the throat. The closer proximity to the heart produces clearer images.
Echocardiograms also may be combined with a Doppler study to assess blood flow.
Echocardiography is used to diagnose conditions involving the structure or function of the heart. An echocardiogram enables visualization of the four chambers of the heart, the valves, the blood vessels entering and leaving the heart, and the sac that surrounds the heart.
