How long does an echocardiogram take on a baby?

A sonographer (sun-OG-ruff-er) who has been specially trained to take sound wave pictures of children’s hearts will do your child’s echocardiogram. All testing takes place on the outside of the body. The test takes about 30–60 minutes to complete. Parents can stay in the room with their child during the entire test.

Why would a newborn need an echocardiogram?

Echocardiography is an important imaging test for heart problems in infants and children. It may help diagnose problems your child was born with (congenital). Or it may help diagnose a problem that has developed (acquired).

How do I prepare my child for an echocardiogram?

Most children do not need to do anything special to get ready for an echocardiogram. However, if your child is under three years old or cannot lie still, they may need a sedative. A sedative is a medicine that will help your child sleep for the test. An echocardiogram works best when the child does not move.

How long does an echo procedure take?

How long does an echocardiogram take? A standard echocardiogram or a fetal echocardiogram test usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes. A stress echocardiogram usually takes between 60 and 90 minutes.

What to expect during an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram exam usually includes a Doppler recording of the blood movement or flow within the heart. When color flow Doppler is used in the exam, it will appear as different colors moving within the white and black images on the monitor. The different colors represent the different speeds and directions of blood flow in the heart.

What does an echocardiogram tell the Doctor?

An echocardiogram (echo) provides a large amount of information about the heart to the doctor. It tells him or her many things, including the size of the heart, the function, how thick the walls of the heart are, how the valves are working, if the valves appear normal or thickened and if there is any fluid around the heart.

What is a bad result for an echocardiogram?

There are no risks of a resting echocardiogram. If you have an exercise echo, you might develop chest pain during the test. Because this is a sign that your heart isn’t getting enough oxygen and could be in danger of damage, it’s important that you alert the medical staff immediately so that the test can be stopped.

What happens during an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is a noninvasive (the skin is not pierced) procedure used to assess the heart’s function and structures. During the procedure, a transducer (like a microphone) sends out ultrasonic sound waves at a frequency too high to be heard. After undressing from the waist up, you’ll lie on an examining table or bed.