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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does An Echo Cardiogram That Measures For Circulatory Changes Require An IV ?

Does an echo cardiogram that measures for circulatory changes require an IV ? I just wonder if the Doppler echo is the type for circulatory changes because it requires an IV so fluid can be seen as it moves through the heart .
Sun, 20 Dec 2009
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Katie - Not all echocardiograms require an IV. In fact, most do not. Doppler echo is a technique in which the machine determines direction of blood flow and indicates it with blue/red colors on the picture. This does not require an IV; it just analyzes the way the sound waves bounce off the blood cells. However, in some cases, your echocardiographer may want to use something called "contrast" during your echo study. The two common brands are Optison and Definity. If so, an IV would be needed to inject the contrast into your bloodstream. This is commonly used in some centers during stress echos to help identify abnormalities in the way the heart squeezes. Sometimes, a "bubble study" is requested to look for abnormal holes in the heart. This is most commonly done to look for a PFO or an ASD. In these situations, an IV would be necessary as well. Hope that helps!
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Does An Echo Cardiogram That Measures For Circulatory Changes Require An IV ?

Katie - Not all echocardiograms require an IV. In fact, most do not. Doppler echo is a technique in which the machine determines direction of blood flow and indicates it with blue/red colors on the picture. This does not require an IV; it just analyzes the way the sound waves bounce off the blood cells. However, in some cases, your echocardiographer may want to use something called contrast during your echo study. The two common brands are Optison and Definity. If so, an IV would be needed to inject the contrast into your bloodstream. This is commonly used in some centers during stress echos to help identify abnormalities in the way the heart squeezes. Sometimes, a bubble study is requested to look for abnormal holes in the heart. This is most commonly done to look for a PFO or an ASD. In these situations, an IV would be necessary as well. Hope that helps!