Essay On Echocardiography

There are many different types of test, procedures, and exams used in the health care field. This is especially true when it comes to the cardiac field of medicine. For the purpose of this paper, the focus will be directed toward two specific test used in the cardiac field, echocardiography (transthoracic, transesophageal, and stress test) and coronary CT angiography. Both are similar in their own ways of pertaining to the heart but both are also different in ways of why they are used, the benefits of each, also the risk factors that come with each of them. Let’s dive into greater detail. To begin, what exactly are each of these procedures and why are they used. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “Echocardiography, or echo, is a painless test that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart.” 1 There can be much usefulness when using this test on a …show more content…
“In recent years, major advances have been made in the field of echocardiography, with the development of new techniques and applications.” 3 This can be comforting information when having to undergo an echocardiography. It is also comforting to know that these test are safe for adults, children, and infants. 1 It is a non-invasive test. One of the best benefits echocardiography gives you is the accurate information the doctor is getting allowing them to be able to give you the most effective treatment plan. Coronary CT angiography is also non-invasive. A major advantage of CT is that it is able to view bone, soft tissue and blood vessels all at the same time.4 It is therefore suited to identify other reasons for your discomfort such as an injury to the aorta or a blood clot in the lungs.4 A potential added benefit of CTA in these patients is the detection of non-cardiac findings, which may provide an alternate explanation for their