Echocardiogram

Doppler Echocardiography, Heart Echocardiogram, Transesophageal Echocardiography, Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE)

What Affects the Test

You may not be able to have the test or the results may not be helpful if you are:

• Overweight, have a thick chest or large breasts, or have lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In these situations, other heart tests may be done. For more information, see the medical tests Cardiac Blood Pool Scan, Electrocardiogram (EKG), Exercise Electrocardiogram, and Cardiac Catheterization.
• Not able to lie still during the test.
• Not able to stand having a probe in your throat during a transesophageal echo (TEE).

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: December 24, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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