Diagnostic Ultrasound Specialist
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Cardiovascular Institute of America
Cardiovascular Disease Specialist & Vein Specialist located in Citrus Park, Tampa, FL & Lutz, FL
Treatment for your heart disease depends on the underlying cause of your condition. The cardiovascular disease specialists at Cardiovascular Institute of America, including board-certified cardiovascular and interventional cardiology physician Muthu Velusamy, MD, FACC, ABVM, perform in-office diagnostic ultrasounds to look at the structures of your heart, assess its function, and confirm or rule out a diagnosis. To learn more about diagnostic ultrasounds, call the office in Tampa or Lutz, Florida, or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment.
Diagnostic Ultrasound Q&A
What is a diagnostic ultrasound?
The diagnostic ultrasound, also known as an echocardiogram or echocardiography, is a noninvasive test that allows the specialists at the Cardiovascular Institute of America to view the structures and function of your heart.
The painless test uses sound wave technology to generate moving images of your heart and structures, including the chambers, valves, walls of your heart, and blood vessels.
During your diagnostic ultrasound, the technician passes a handheld wand, referred to as a transducer, over your chest, which sends sound waves into your body that bounce off your heart and then back to the sensor. The information from the transducer is sent to a computer that translates the sounds into images you view on a computer monitor.
Why would I need a diagnostic ultrasound?
The specialists at the Cardiovascular Institute of America explain why you need a diagnostic ultrasound during your evaluation. The team may recommend the test to diagnose:
- Heart failure
- Valvular heart disease
- Coronary heart disease
- Heart defects
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Tumor
The test also allows the team to assess the size of your heart, the thickness of its walls, and how your blood moves through its chambers. The diagnostic ultrasound also evaluates the blood vessels around your heart to look for blockages or narrowing.
What happens during a diagnostic ultrasound?
The specialists at the Cardiovascular Institute of America perform your diagnostic ultrasound at the office, which takes about an hour. Unlike other diagnostic tests, you don’t need to change your diet or medication schedule before the test, unless otherwise directed by your cardiovascular disease specialist.
Your specialist first attaches electrodes to your chest that monitors your heart’s electrical activity during the ultrasound. Your specialist also applies a gel to the skin on your chest to improve the conduction of the sound waves and movement of the transducer over your skin.
After your diagnostic ultrasound, your specialist reviews any preliminary findings and schedules a follow-up appointment to discuss the details of your test and your treatment plan. There’s no downtime following a diagnostic ultrasound so that you can resume your usual activities afterward.
To learn more about diagnostic ultrasounds, call Cardiovascular Institute of America or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment today.
