What is an echocardiogram?
Echocardiography, which is often referred to as a cardiac echo or simply an echo, uses sound waves to create images of your heart.
An echo test is a simple painless procedure carried out by trained sonographers to view your heart structure and how well it is working. The sonographer will use ultrasound images of your heart to detect things such as:
- Blood flow
- Size, shape and movement
- Function and performance
- Strength of muscles/tissue
- Congenital defects (from birth)
Why might I need an echo test?
Your cardiologist might order an echocardiogram to check the health and function of your heart. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, an irregular heartbeat, high or low blood pressure can require further investigation.
Different types of echocardiogram
The type of echocardiogram you need will depend on the information your doctor requires. The most common type is a transthoracic echocardiogram which is conducted using an ultrasound wand with gel applied on the outside of the chest, near your heart. Other types include:
What should I expect at an echo test?
- Echocardiography is a type of ultrasound that does not use radiation or X-ray and carries no known adverse effects.
- The test usually takes about 45 minutes.
- You will be asked to undress to your waist (a gown can be provided), and lie on an examination bed on your left side.
- Your cardiac sonographer will attach small metal disks (ECG electrodes) to your chest which will be used to monitor your heart rhythm during the test.
- As with other ultrasound procedures, a cool gel is placed on your skin and a handheld wand (transducer) is used to send and receive waves from your heart to generate pictures.
How should I prepare for an echo test?
-
You do not need to do anything to prepare for your test, however you will need to wear a two-piece outfit on the day so you can easily undress to the waist.
-
Avoid applying lotions, perfumes or powders to the chest area and remove any neck jewellery to assist with adhering the electrodes and ensure good skin contact for the ultrasound wand.
-
No fasting is required.
What happens next?
One of our cardiologists will review your results and provide a full report to your referring doctor who will be able to assist you with any follow up course of action.
Patient information
Our doctors
Dr Julie Humphries
Cardiovascular Imaging Specialist
Special clinical interests in non invasive cardiac imaging, invasive cardiac imaging (Cath) and heart failure (with focus on diastolic heart failure)
Dr Mark Nidorf
Cardiovascular Imaging Specialist
Special clinical interest in non invasive cardiac imaging, echocardiography and the management of coronary disease.
Dr Pey Wen Lou
Cardiovascular Imaging Specialist
Special clinical interest in cardiac MRI, echocardiogram, heart failure and heart transplant.
Regional Cancer Centre, Corner of Borella Road and East Street, East Albury, VIC, 2640
(02) 6043 7800
3056 Albany Hwy, Suite 10, Armadale Hospital Specialist Centre, Armadale WA 6112
(08) 9391 1234
Cardiac Investigations Unit, Bundaberg Base Hospital, Bourbong Street, Bundaberg West, QLD, 4670
(07) 4199 7300
Beaudesert Medical Centre, 47 William St, Beaudesert QLD 4285, Australia
(07) 5541 1422
St John Of God Berwick Specialist Centre, 55 Kangan Drive, Berwick VIC 3806, Australia
(03) 8794 2700
Buderim Private Hospital, 12 Elsa Wilson Drive, Buderim QLD 4556
(07) 5478 4829
Buderim Private Hospital, 12 Elsa Wilson Drive, Buderim QLD 4556
1800 155 225
Suite 21, St John of God Hospital, Southwest Health Campus, Corner of Roberston Drive & Bussell Highway, WA, 6230
(08) 9720 3400
South West Health Campus, Corner of Bussell Hwy & Roberston Drive, Bunbury, WA 6230
(08) 9726 6400
Suite 21, St John of God Hospital, Southwest Health Campus, (Cnr Robertson Drive & Bussell Hwy), Bunbury WA 6230
(08) 9720 3403
Suite 3, Entrance 1, 72 Barolin Street, Bundaberg, QLD 4670
(07) 4199 7080
Mater Misericordiae Hospital, 313 Bourbong Street, Bundaberg West, QLD, 4670
(07) 4199 7080
Health and Wellness Centre Level 1, Suites 8-10, 20 Scholar Drive, Bundoora VIC 3083
(03) 8467 5900
Cabrini Hospital Malvern, Level B4, Gandel Wing, 183 Wattletree Road, Malvern, VIC 3144
(03) 9597 6900
Calvary Central Districts Hospital, Jarvis Road, Elizabeth Vale SA 5112, Australia
(08) 7285 6400
Chermside Medical Complex, Lower Ground Floor, 956 Gympie Road, Chermside Brisbane, QLD, 4032
(07) 3917 4400
Oriel Place, Suite 3, Level 1 531 Sandgate Road Clayfield QLD 4011
(07) 3648 2500
Cockburn Health & Community Centre, Level 1, Suite 11, 11 Wentworth Parade, Success WA 6164
(08) 6332 2300
Cockburn Health & Community Centre, Level 1, Suite 11, 11 Wentworth Parade, Success WA 6164
(08) 9233 5200
Central Highlands Healthcare Ltd. Trading as Emerald Medical Group Lot 1, Pilot Farm Road, Emerald QLD 4720
(07) 3858 8690
Epping Medical Centre, Ground Floor, 230 Cooper Street, Epping, VIC, 3076
(03) 9409 8000
Department of Radiation Oncology Cancer Centre, Lower Ground Floor 102-118 Murdoch Drive, Murdoch WA 6150
(08) 6318 2882
Flinders Private Hospital, Level 2, 1 Flinders Drive, Bedford Park, SA 5042
(08) 8179 5500
Suite 3, Level 1, Building 1, 49 Frenchs Forest Road, Frenchs Forest East NSW 2086
(02) 9470 5300
Floor 1, 19-23 Bingera Street, Bundaberg QLD 4670
(07) 4199 7300
Mater Hospital (Outpatients Department), 50 Rosella Street, Gladstone, QLD, 4680
(07) 3858 8690
Gladstone GP Superclinic, 214 Philip Street, Gladstone Central QLD 4680
(07) 4199 7080
Ramsay Specialist Centre Suite 212, Level 2 Newdegate Street, Greenslopes, QLD, 4120
(07) 3255 7200
Gympie Specialist and Diagnostic Centre, 74 - 76 Channon Street, Gympie QLD 4570
(07) 5390 3700
Warringal Private Hospital, Suite 1, 216 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084
(03) 9455 4800
Corner of Nissen Street & Urraween Road, Urraween QLD 4655
(07) 4303 4351
Hollywood Consulting Centre, Ground Floor, Unit 1 91 Monash Avenue Nedlands WA 6009
(08) 9286 8800
Waratah Private Hospital, Level 6, 31 Dora Street, Hurstville, NSW, 2220
(02) 8568 7600
Jimboomba Medical Centre, 69 Cerina Circuit, Jimboomba QLD 4280, Australia
(07) 5546 9766
Nuclear Medicine & Therapy Centre, 42 Inland Drive, Tugun QLD 4224
(08) 9438 8500
John Flynn Private Hospital, 42 Inland Drive, Tugun QLD 4224
Level 3, Shenton House, 57 Shenton Avenue, Joondalup, WA 6027
(08) 9400 6161
Level 2 & 3, 57 Shenton Avenue, Joondalup WA 6027
(08) 9233 5200
Kalamunda Specialist Centre, 37 Elizabeth Street, Kalamunda, WA
(08) 9480 3000
Karratha Health Campus Outpatients Department 62 Balmoral Road KARRATHA WA 6714
(08) 9144 7777
Lady Bjelke-Petersen Community Hospital (formerly South Burnett Private Hospital), 31 Markwell Street, Kingaroy QLD 4610
(07) 3858 8690
Suite 1, Tennyson Centre, 520 South Road, Kurralta Park, SA 5037
(08) 8375 3200
Langwarrin Suite 2, 35 Cranbourne-Frankston Road, Langwarrin VIC 3910
(03) 8769 5800
Lilydale Private Consulting Suites, 475 Swansea Rd, Lilydale VIC 3140
(03) 9735 4288
Hospital Building, Suite 1, Level B2, 3 Technology Place, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109
(02) 9812 3220
GenesisCare, 30 Metford Road, East Maitland Maitland, NSW, Australia
(02) 4936 3900
17 Farrelly Street, Margaret River WA, Australia
(08) 9720 3400
Margaret River Surgery, 1 Station Road, Margaret River WA, Australia
(08) 9720 3400
Margaret River Surgery, 1 Station Road, Margaret River WA, Australia
(08) 9720 3400
St Stephen's Medical Centre Suite 8, 166 John Street Maryborough QLD 4650
(07) 4303 4300
Mater Private Clinic Suite 5.02 & 5.11, Level 5 550 Stanley Street South Brisbane QLD 4101
(07) 3360 7100
The Mater Hospital, 25 Rocklands road, North Sydney, NSW
(02)9458 8050
Midland Medical Specialist Care, 23 The Crescent, Midland, WA 6056
(08) 9480 3000
Mount Ommaney Medical Centre Shop 6/171 Dandenong Road Mt Ommaney QLD 4074
(07) 3725 3900
Mulgrave Private Hospital, Churchill Consulting Suites, Blanton Drive, Mulgrave VIC 3170
(03) 8793 3800
Wexford Medical Centre, Level 4, Suite 68-72, 3 Barry Marshall Parade, Murdoch, WA 6150
(08) 6332 2300
Centre for radiation Oncology, 100 Murdoch Dr, Murdoch WA 6150, Australia
(08) 9366 1500
Suite 5-7, SJOG Medical Centre, 100 Murdoch Drive, Murdoch WA 6150
(08) 9233 5200
Suite 20/21 Hollywood Medical Centre, 85 Monash Avenue, Nedlands WA
(08) 6389 9100
Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, 36 Pacific Highway, Gateshead, NSW, 2290
(02) 4918 4500
Lake Imaging Specialist and Research Centre, 14-20 Blackwood Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051
(03) 9813 7950
North Shore Health Hub, Tower A, Level 1, 7 Westbourne Street, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia
(02) 8037 4100
North Shore Health Hub, Tower A, Level 1, 7 Westbourne Street, St Leonards NSW 2065, Australia
(02) 9057 5900
St Andrew’s Hospital, North Street, Spring Hill, QLD, 4000
(07) 3832 1717
Lakeside Square Medical Precinct, Level 2, 2-9 Village Way, Pakenham VIC 3810
(03) 8793 3800
Melbourne Private Hospital, Private Medical Centre, Level 4, Suite 22, Royal Parade, Parkville VIC 3052
(03) 9813 7950
Suite 3 Mount Medical Centre, Level 3, 140 Mounts Bay Road, Perth WA 6000
(08) 9233 5200
Pindara Specialist Suites Suite 4.07, Level 4, 29 Carrara Street, Benowa QLD 4214
Pindara Private Hospital, Allchurch Avenue, Benowa QLD 4217
Hedland Health Campus, Outpatient Department, Port Hedland WA 6721
(08) 9174 1380
Epworth Consulting Level 6, Suite 6.4 89 Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121
(03) 9813 7950
Ringwood Private Hospital, 36 Mount Dandenong Road, Ringwood East VIC 3135
(03) 8870 3300
RiverCity Private Hospital, Level 4, 401 Milton Road, Auchenflower, QLD, 4066
Mater Hospital (Outpatients Department) 31 Ward Street Rockhampton QLD 4700
(07) 3858 8690
Rockhampton Hospital, Lower Ground Floor, Canning Street, Rockhampton, QLD, 4700
(07) 4932 5000
Elanora Dr, Rockingham General Hospital, Cooloongup WA 6168
Shenton House, Level 3, 57 Shenton Avenue, Joondalup, WA 6027
(08) 9400 6213
St Andrew's Hospital, 352 South Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
(08) 8228 6700
St Andrew's Medical Centre Clinic, Level 2. 321 South Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000
(08) 8202 6644
St Andrew's Hospital Toowoomba, 280 North Street, Toowoomba, QLD 4350
St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, Level 2, 457 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, QLD
1800 155 225
Level 1, Suite 10, Sara Stella Medical Centre, St Stephen's Private Hospital, 1 Medical Place, Urraween QLD 4655
(07) 4303 4300
Level A, 438 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010
(02) 8302 5400
St Vincent's Hospital, Basement Level, Building C, 41 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy, VIC, 3065
(03) 9427 6500
St Vincent's Private Hospital, Toowoomba, Scott Street, Toowoomba City QLD 4350
(07) 3858 8600
St Vincent's Private Hospital, Scott Street, Toowoomba, QLD 4350
Suites 14 & 15, Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital, 3 Doherty Street, Birtinya QLD 4575
(07) 5390 3700
Sunshine Coast Respiratory & Sleep, Suite 501, Vitality Village 5, Discovery Way, Birtinya QLD 4575
(07) 5329 4130
Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital Suite 20/3 Doherty St, Birtinya QLD, 4575
(07) 5437 9788
Union Road Specialists Centre, 203 Union Road, Surrey Hills VIC 3127
(03) 9813 7900
Level 5, Suite 91 Sandford Jackson Building 30 Chasely Street Auchenflower QLD 4066
(07) 3858 8600
Level 2, Wesley Hospital 451 Coronation Drive, Auchenflower QLD 4066
(07) 3858 8650
The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD, 4066
1800 155 225
The Wesley Medical Centre, 1/40 Chasely St Auchenflower, Brisbane, QLD, 4066
(07) 3377 4200
Whittlesea Specialist Centre, 79-81 Church Street, Whittlesea VIC 3757
(03) 8467 5900
Royal Street Specialist Centre, Cnr Royal Street & Wanneroo Road, Yokine, WA 6060
DR 7 Medical Centre, Cnr Royal Street & Wanneroo Rd, Yokine WA 6060
(08) 9233 5200
Search for a centre near you