Ultrasound Testing

What is an Ultrasound?

Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images of structures in your body, including your heart and blood vessels. An ultrasound transducer emits sound waves that bounce off tissues and return to the transducer. Then the transducer sends them to a computer that interprets the waves to produce images.

What Should I Expect During an Ultrasound?

The ultrasound department at Phoenix Heart is fully credentialed and employs highly trained and certified sonographers who specialize in cardiac and vascular sonography. The department also utilizes state-of-the-art equipment. This means you can count on personalized care and the highest quality ultrasound results.

Many cardiac ultrasounds are noninvasive. Others are performed using a catheter that’s guided through your blood vessels.

What Types of Ultrasounds are Performed?

The experts at Phoenix Heart offer the following ultrasounds:

• Echocardiogram: One of the most common cardiac ultrasounds, an echocardiogram shows how well your heart is working. Ultrasound images reveal the size of your heart, how well it’s pumping blood, and the condition of your heart valves.
• Stress Echocardiogram: A stress echocardiogram combines a treadmill stress test with ultrasound. The images show whether your heart gets enough oxygen, structural abnormalities, exercise tolerance, and blood pressure maintenance.
• Bubble Echocardiogram: This test combines an echocardiogram with agitated saline flushes. The microbubbles created by the saline are shown on ultrasound as they enter your heart, which helps your doctor evaluate the heart’s structure, detect abnormal communication between chambers, and isolate the cause of your symptoms.
• Arterial Ultrasound: This imaging procedure uses Doppler ultrasound, which measures the amount of blood flowing through your arteries. Your doctor performs this test to see blockages and valve defects, evaluate circulation in your legs, and diagnose the cause of symptoms.
• Carotid Ultrasound: This ultrasound produces images of the carotid arteries in your neck to identify blockages and to screen for stroke risk.
• Abdominal Aortic Ultrasound: Your doctor performs this ultrasound to check for the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

What is Cardio-Oncology?

The team at Phoenix Heart is dedicated to the prevention and early recognition of cardiovascular problems caused by cancer treatment. They provide a baseline echocardiogram prior to chemotherapy, then perform follow-up ultrasounds as needed throughout your treatment.

They work in cooperation with your oncologist, with the goal of reducing your risk of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and other cardiovascular diseases.

When you need a cardiovascular ultrasound, you can depend on the team at Phoenix Heart — call or book an appointment online.