Echocardiography, including stress echocardiography

At a glance

• Transthoracic echo (TTE) is the first imaging test for heart failure, murmurs, suspected structural disease, unexplained breathlessness with a raised BNP, and after MI.
• A report answers four questions: LV size and function, diastolic function and filling pressure, RV and pulmonary pressure, valves (plus pericardium and aorta).
• TOE gives better views of posterior structures: prosthetic valves, LA appendage, vegetations, the aorta.