Diagnosis As A Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE)

To diagnosis AS a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) is completed, with two dimensional doppler (2D). An Echocardiogram is a diagnostic study that uses ultrasound waves transmitted through a transducer using a conducting gel to create an image of the heart. Ultrasound waves are cyclic in nature and at a frequency that are not audible within the parameter of human hearing (Fridman, V., 2013). The transthoracic approach provides visualization of the heart and its structures. Throughout TTE the ultrasound probe is positioned at various points on the chest wall and images are taken at each position. The best position to complete the TTE is by having the patient lying in the lateral decubitus position. When placing the probe at various points on the chest the structures of the heart are …show more content…
For example when a para sternal long axis view is completed the left ventricle (LV), mitral valve and the mitral valve apparatus, the left atria (LA), left ventricular outflow, and the aortic valve (AV) are visualized (Fridman, Finkielstein, 2013). A TTE provides valuable information for determining the size and shape of the heart, the strength of pump, location of tissue damage, and determine if there any change in the pattern of blood flow. It is able to visualize all of the heart valves determine thickening, and calcific changes (Aronow, 2013, Grimmard & Larson, 2008, & Dinsmoor, 2006). In addition to visualizing the heart valve a TTE is able to visualize the number of leaflets on each valve, qualitatively assess the motion of each valve and determine level of calcification for each leaflet (Nishimura, et al. 2014). When using the 2D approach one is able to evaluate the severity of AS and predicate clinical outcomes (Nishimura, et al.