A transthoracic echocardiogram is a painless test that uses ultrasound to interrogate the structure and function of the heart. A transthoracic echocardiogram is a completely noninvasive test with no known risks. Ultrasound is used to generate images of the heart and surrounding structures.
Transthoracic echocardiograms are particularly useful to assess the size of the heart, the function of the heart, the valves of the heart, and the status of the surrounding structures including the lining of the heart.
A typical transthoracic echo will take approximately 40 minutes and is performed by a sonographer, a technician trained to perform these studies. The study is then reviewed by an attending echocardiographer, a cardiologist who specializes in interpreting echocardiograms.
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