Echocardiogram

Our team of cardiac imaging specialists uses advanced technology to learn the most we can about your child's heart and possible medical condition. One of the most common cardiac imaging tests is an echocardiogram, often called an echo.

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is a noninvasive test that uses sound waves to create images. It works like an ultrasound we use to see a baby in the womb, but for the heart. An echocardiogram that we use on the chest in order to see the heart is called a transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). From this test, our doctors can learn about the structure and blood flow of the heart. Our cardiologists and imaging specialists can even use an echo to see critical heart defects and structural or valve abnormalities.

What to expect from an echocardiogram

An echo is not invasive and we often complete it during your child’s cardiology clinic visit on the same day. Here’s what your child can expect:

1. Your child will need to lie very still for 30 to 45 minutes. As a children’s hospital, we have a lot of techniques to help kids stay still, but in cases where small children can’t stay still, we may need to use sedation. One of our pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, who specializes in working with kids, will give medicine to calm your child or put them to sleep, depending on the need.
2. A cardiac sonographer, who specializes in performing the echocardiogram, will put stickers on your child’s chest to monitor their heart rate, and your child will lie on their side or back for the test.
3. The sonographer uses a wand with gel on it to get the images of your child’s heart (like an ultrasound for pregnant parents). We make the room as comfortable as possible and let your child watch a movie while we perform the test. Parents or guardians are required to stay in the room with their child if they are under 18 and to help comfort them throughout the test.
4. Sometimes your child's cardiologist will come in and review the test or ask for more photos. This is not a sign that anything is wrong — sometimes they just need more information.

Are there any risks of pediatric echocardiograms?

An echocardiogram uses ultrasound waves as opposed to other imaging tests that may use low levels of radiation. There is no known risk from exposure to ultrasound waves.

Is there more than one type of echocardiogram?

While the echocardiogram is a basic imaging tool many hospitals use, we also use different types of echocardiogram technology and different methods of obtaining the images to help us see more detail and different angles of the heart.

Fetal echocardiogram

A fetal echocardiogram is a safe ultrasound performed on a pregnant patient’s abdomen to show the structure of an unborn baby's heart. It provides valuable information on the anatomy, growth and development of the baby's heart and blood vessels. Using this test, doctors who specialize in fetal cardiology can diagnose a baby's structural heart problems and heart rhythm problems before birth.

3D echocardiogram

A 3D echo lets doctors analyze heart anatomy and function by producing a virtual 3D model of a child's heart, offering views of the heart’s anatomy that can’t be seen by a standard 2D echocardiogram. This can be a crucial planning tool for surgery because it helps the cardiology and cardiothoracic surgical teams understand the structure and function of the heart better.

At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we pioneered 3D echo guidance for certain heart catheterization procedures that lowered, and in some cases eliminated, the need for patient exposure to X-ray radiation.

What to expect from a 3D echocardiogram

We can perform 3D echos at the same time as a standard echo, either at your child's bedside or in our outpatient clinic. However, it may take longer to process the 3D images after the test compared to the 2D images.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) 

We can use a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) to assess heart anatomy and function when a transthoracic echocardiogram is not helpful or possible — when the chest can’t be accessed, for example. In some cases, a TEE can help us produce better images of the heart. For this type of echocardiogram, we guide a thin, flexible tube with a small ultrasound probe through the esophagus. This helps get us closer to the patient's heart. We can use this during heart surgery or catheterization to see the results of an operation in real time.

What to expect from a TEE

We perform a TEE when the patient is under anesthesia, either during heart surgery in the operating room or during a cardiac catheterization. Because we perform the TEE while your child is asleep, they will not feel the test or remember the procedure being done. We can perform a TEE on babies as small as four pounds. We also have a special 3D TEE probe that can give us detailed views of anatomy in older kids.

Intersocietal Accreditation Commission

The Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) accredits imaging facilities and hospitals specific to echocardiography. IAC accreditation signals the highest level of echocardiogram expertise. Our echocardiogram program has been accredited for several decades.

Why choose Children’s Colorado for your child’s echocardiogram?

Our Heart Institute performs more than 30,000 echocardiograms every year. We are experienced in virtually every type of echocardiography and use advanced technology to get the most detailed images so we can provide an accurate diagnosis and best understand your child’s heart. Our cardiac imaging experts use every tool possible to understand how your child’s heart functions and work with our cardiologists to provide the best care plan specific to your child’s needs. Using our extensive cardiac imaging knowledge and expertise, our specialists can get the most detailed images, and in turn, help our pediatric cardiologists provide the best treatment.