How long does An Echocardiogram Take?
An average echocardiogram will take around 20 minutes to 1 hour to complete. Around 5 minutes owill be spent on preparing and positioning the patient for the echocardiogram. 15 minutes on average will be spent acquiring the relevant images of the heart. A stress echocardiogram on top of this may add another 15-20 minutes.
How Long Does An Echocardiogram Take? – Patient Preparation
Patients will be taken to the echocardiogram room where they will be given a gown to dress in. When taking an echocardiogram access to various areas on the chest wall will be needed. EKG leads will be placed on the patient; this allows accurate acquisition of images. The echocardiogram will typically be performed on a specially designed echocardiogram table. Often the patient will lay over to their left hand side be given a wedge to place behind the right side. This allows for clearer images due to the heart positioning.
How Long Does An Echocardiogram Take – The Test Itself
Typically images will be taken in 3 areas. Firstly on the front of the chest over the area called the sternum. Next is the left side of the chest wall, over the ribs on the right hand side under the armpit area. Finally is the area at the top of the stomach just underneath the ribs. Sometimes extra images will be taken just underneath the neck area or in other placed.
How Long Does An Echocardiogram Take – Special Cases?
When considering how long does an echocardiogram take, it’s often dependent on if special tests are added on such as a stress echocardiogram. Patients will be made aware beforehand if this is the case. A stress echocardiogram may take up to an extra 20 minutes depending on the type of stress. In some cases patients will exercise on the treadmill prior to the echocardiogram pictures being taken. In some cases patients will receive medicine through an IV to increase the heart rate and the pictures taken while various doses of medicines are given. In some cases, there may be special findings on an echocardiogram that mean extra attention to detail and pictures are required, this will of course add time to the test.
How Long Does An Echocardiogram Take? – Things To Consider
Although the echocardiogram itself may take 20 minutes there are extra things to consider when asking – how long does an echocardiogram take? Patients will often have to register first and complete paperwork. There may be a wait for the echocardiogram depending on availability that day. These factors can add significant amounts of time and need to be considered in planning time. Hopefully this article has been useful in answering the question – How Long Does An Echocardiogram Take.
Comments are purely for informational purposes and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Disclaimer
Salam Dr. Ahmed,
My father 72yrs old had a severe chest, abdomen and shoulder pain. Also had vomiting, for which we underwent ECG, Echocardiagraphy etc. Currently he is in ICU from past 24 hrs.
Detailed Reports for same have been sent to you seperately which shows “Aortic valves: Sclerotic and left ventrical: Cocentric LVH” readings.
Also Renal Report has below readings:
Blood urea: 39.4 mgs/dl
Serum Creatinine: 1.7 mgs/dl
Serum sodium: 135.0 mmol/L
Serum potassium: 4.9 mmol/L
Chloride: 94 mmol/L
Kindly let me know the severity level of this attack and what should be the next course of action.
What was the diagnosis given? The heart itself and the valves appear to be functioning well.
Is peppermint harmful for heart? In india we are using peppermint instead of tabaco
What do you mean specifically by peppermint?
Good Evening,
First of all, thank you for all of the invaluable information that is shared with all.
I recently had a battery of tests run for employment reasons. I was notified that my hsCRP level was 6.4 mg/l and was extremely high. I have had never experienced pain general or localized from the area of my chest and the doctor has ordered an echocardiography? I am really nervous and wondered what I can expect from this test?
Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Charles
Im not sure of the reason for ordering echocardiography here. If you are asymptomatic and have a normal physical exam without any other known cardiac structural issues then echo isn’t typically ordered for screening purposes.
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Hello,
I am female and almost 50 and the last month i have had about 3 episodes where my heart feels like it is going crazy all of a sudden. Twice while up putting up laundry and once while laying in bed. My normal heart rate run in the 60’s or 70’s. But all 3 times I look at my watch while this is happening and my heart rate jumps up to the 180’s. It doesn’t last but maybe 20 seconds and no symptoms with it. Just very uneasy then I worry alot afterwards.
Get evaluated by a healthcare provider. There may be benefit to characterizing these episodes with a monitor.
you can follow my twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD
All the feed back I found very helpful.
I’m 78 and due to have an ecocardiogram and heart monitor following a mild stroke two weeks ago.
At the moment I now feel fine following two scans , it’s following these that the consultant has requested further tests.
I have a pacemaker Is it alright to have an ECHO???? Thank U
Yes thats fine.
you can follow our twitter at @MustafaAhmedMD
I had my first cartoid ultrasound done….It came back normal, there were no numeric measurements on it like there has been on past echocardiogram reports, is it common to include numeric measurements on a cartoid ultrasound?….
The report stated: (report said same thing for right side to)
“Left common and internal carotid arteries: There is no significant
atherosclerotic plaque demonstrated in the visualized portions of the
left common or left internal carotid artery. The peak systolic and
end-diastolic velocities are within normal limits in all measured
locations. There is no sonographic evidence of hemodynamically
significant left internal carotid artery stenosis.
Extracranial vertebral arteries: There is antegrade flow in the
bilateral extracranial vertebral arteries as expected”.
I gust had an echocardiogram when the tech put it under my beast over my sterum and pressed it down I started feeling like I had bad indergestion and a burning feeling and a little hard to breathe. What can cause this?
My 75-year-old obese uncle has COPD. His cardiologist want to do an echocardiogram, but my uncle is unable to lie on his back for more than a minute or two before he has a coughing fit. Can the echocadiogram be done with him sitting instead of being prone? Please advise.
ASE guidelines recommend one HOUR to complete a standard echo (and even a little longer for a complex echo). Twenty minutes is how long a limited echo may take. I always hesitate putting things like this out there because patients will hear 20 minutes and if their echo goes over that they’re (super) upset.