An echocardiogram is a test that examines the internal structures of the heart. It is a painless procedure, which uses a probe that emits sound waves into the chest. These sound waves are high-frequency and bounce off internal structures, giving an image of the heart's activity. The procedure is similar to an ultrasound that a woman has during pregnancy. An echocardiogram on an infant can detect various heart problems.
Circulation
The heart consists of four chambers, with the upper and lower chambers separated by valves. Blood from the body enters the heart in the upper right portion, called the right atrium. The blood then flows through a valve down into the right ventricle. From here, the blood is sent to the lungs, where it receives oxygen before returning to the heart. Oxygenated blood enters the heart again, this time in the left atrium, where it flows through a valve down into the left ventricle. From here, the blood is ejected out through the aorta to be sent to the tissues in the body.
Process
An echocardiogram is performed in an outpatient clinic or hospital setting. A sonographer performs the test, and the images are recorded. The infant lies in a crib with his chest exposed. The sonographer places a special wand against the infant's chest and moves it around to see the images of the heart, using a gel to lubricate the process. Later, a cardiologist will then review the recorded images to interpret the results.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
An infant has a different type of circulation around the heart before he is born. Because he does not breathe air until birth, blood bypasses the lungs through an open valve known as the ductus arteriosus. According to The Nemours Foundation, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occurs when this valve fails to close after birth. PDA occurs more commonly in premature infants and is diagnosed with an echocardiogram to determine the direction of blood flow.
Septal Defects
Some infants are born with a heart defect where the walls of the heart are not entirely closed. Both the upper and lower chambers of the heart are separated from each other by a wall known as a septum. Some infants are born with a hole in one or both of these walls. A hole in the septum separating the atria is called an atrial septal defect (ASD); a hole in the septum between the ventricles is called a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Both an ASD and a VSD may be diagnosed with an echocardiogram, as the blood can be seen mixing between the two sides.
Tetralogy of Fallot
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) occurs as a set of four anomalies of the heart that occur at the same time. The condition develops in the fetus and consists of a narrowed pulmonary valve, affecting blood flow to the lungs; a VSD; a malformation of the aorta; and an enlarged wall of the right ventricle. TOF may be diagnosed by an echocardiogram, as it allows the doctor to see the many abnormalities of heart structures.
