Resting and Stress Echo is an ultrasound of the heart at rest and is then repeated at peak exercise and allows us to see the movement of the walls of the pumping chamber of the heart and compare them at rest and with exercise.
Echocardiography is an ultrasound examination of the heart in great vessels. This is a non-invasive test and normally does not require an IV injection. The ultrasound enables us to accurately measure the heart size, to see the motion of the walls and evaluate the overall heart muscle function, to evaluate blood flow through the valves, and to look for fluid in the sack surrounding the heart. An Echo is a very common diagnostic tool and will usually be one of the first tests ordered if a murmur is present or to evaluate congestive heart failure.