Hospital News
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- Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Opens as a Center for Innovative, World-Class Cardiac Care and Patient Education
- Eight-Hour Surgery Removes Life-Threatening Blood Clots From 17-Year-Old's Lungs
- 100th Heart Valve Replacement Implanted Without Open-Heart Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
- NEJM Study Finds Drug-Eluting Stents More Effective Than Bare-Metal Stents in Heart Attack Patients
- Potential Lung Disease Biomarkers Yield Clues to COX-2 Inhibitor Side Effects
- Unique Cardiac Training Gives NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Doctor Ability to Treat Heart Patients With Hybrid Approach
- Dr. Holly Andersen to Lead Education and Outreach at New Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
- Heart Valves Implanted Without Open-Heart Surgery
- Reducing the Damage of a Heart Attack
- Presence of Gum Disease May Help Dentists and Physicians Identify Those at Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
- First Trial of Gene Therapy for Advanced Heart Failure Shows Promising Results
- Gender Differences and Heart Disease
- JAMA Article Looks at Data-Sharing in Clinical Trials for Heart Disease
- $50 Million Gift to NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
- Physician-Scientist Urges Improved Drug Regulation to Ensure Safety of Non-Heart Drugs
- Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Women May Save Lives
- For High Blood Pressure Patients, Preventing or Reducing Enlarged Heart May Decrease Risk for Diabetes
- Columbia Scientists Study Advantages of Using Web to Tailor Medical Information to Patients
- New Intravascular Radiation Procedures Reduce Renarrowing of Coronary Arteries
- A NYC First: Patient Participates in Stem Cell Clinical Trial to Repair Heart Damaged by Severe Coronary Artery Disease
- For High-Blood-Pressure Patients, Preventing or Reducing Enlarged Heart Decreases Risk of Heart Failure
- Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital Performs Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Physician-Scientists Present Findings at American Heart Association's Annual Conference
- Potential for Adult Stem Cells to Repair Hearts Damaged by Severe Coronary Artery Disease Investigated in Ongoing Study
- Scientific Evidence Points to Male Biological Clock
- Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke Studied in First-of-Its-Kind Series of Clinical Studies
- NYC First: NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Cardiologists Implant Novel Stroke-Prevention Device for Heart Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
- Keeping the Beat: NewYork-Presbyterian Offers Heart Patients New Combination Defibrillator/Pacemakers
- Diabetics Benefit Less from Anti-Hypertensive Treatment to Reduce Enlarged Heart
- Larger Waistline Is Linked to Increased Risk for Heart Disease in Women
- Electrocardiogram Helps Predict Risk for Congestive Heart Failure in Hypertensive Patients
- Gene Test Detects Heart Transplant Rejection
- Computerized Electrocardiogram Rhythm Errors Common, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Study Finds
- Columbia Research Suggests Need to Rethink Causes of Heart Failure
- New Methodology Gives Weill Cornell Team Insights into Psychological Value of Cardiac Stress Testing
- Columbia University Medical Center Study Shows Stress Test Saves Lives of Patients With Chest Pain
- New Treatment for Enlarged Heart Effective, NewYork Weill Cornell Study Shows
- Reducing Enlarged Heart Muscle Cuts Patients' Cardiac Risk, Independent of Lowered Blood Pressure, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Researchers Report
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center Physician-Scientists Present Clinical Research at American Heart Association's Annual Conference
- Columbia University Medical Center Instrumental in Clinical Research Leading to Medicare and Medicaid Approval To Cover Heart Pump
- New Laser Technology Offers Promise for Heart Disease Patients
- Do Heart Disease and Cancer Have a Common Genetic Link?
- Research Shows Cholesterol-Lowering Drug Lovastatin Reduces Risk of Heart Attack in Healthy Adults
- Weill Cornell Researchers Announce New Gene Therapy Strategy To Promote Hair Growth
- Lovastatin Treatment Reduces Events in Patients at Varying Degrees of Coronary Risk and Reduces Need for Invasive Procedures
- "Bad" Cholesterol May Not Be the Best Predictor of Heart Disease Risk in Generally Healthy Individuals
- Lupus Patients at Increased Risk for Atherosclerosis, Weill Cornell Study Finds
- Weill Cornell Dean and Cardiovascular Expert Makes "Top Ten" Texas List
- Genetic Medicine Program at Weill Cornell Receives Major Boost from The Starr Foundation
- Weill Cornell Researchers Identify a Likely Genetic Cause of Atherosclerosis
- Left Ventricular Assist Devices May Improve Heart Function and Lead to Search for New Therapies To Obviate Need for Transplants
- Dean Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., Elected Fellow of American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Weill Cornell Researchers Find New Locus of Genetic Defect for Some Cases of Familial Aortic Aneurysm
- Low-Dose, Over-the-Counter Statins May Be Safe, Effective Aid in Preventing Heart Disease for Americans at Moderate Risk, Says Weill Cornell Dean
- Weill Cornell Physician-Scientists Win 2 Top Awards at American Heart Association Meeting
- Weill Cornell Scientists Reveal Action of a Histamine Receptor That May Lead to New Therapies for Heart Attacks
- Weill Cornell Study Illuminates Cardiac Scarring That Leads to Heart Failure
- 9/11 Lifestyle Changes May Increase Cardiovascular Risk
- Weill Cornell Receives $7.6 Million Federal Grant for Clinical Trials on New Ways To Change Behavior in Patients With Cardiopulmonary Disease
- Americans Encouraged to Make Many Lifestyle Changes, Not Just One, to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk
- Researcher Predicts Paradigm Shift in Heart Disease Treatment
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Announces State-of-the-Art, Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center in Washington Heights
Health Library
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- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Aneurysm Overview
- Angina Pectoris
- Arrhythmias
- Atherosclerosis
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Bradycardia, Heart Block and Bundle Branch Block
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Coronary Arteries: Anatomy and Function
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Diabetes and Heart Disease
- Diabetes and High Blood Pressure
- Heart's Electrical System: Anatomy and Function
- Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
- Heart Defects, Congenital
- Heart Murmurs
- Heart Valve Anatomy and Function
- Heart Valve Diseases
- Implantable Converter Defibrillators
- Medical Management of Vascular Conditions
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Pericarditis
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Sudden Cardiac Death
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope (Sudden Loss of Consciousness)
- Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
- Vascular Conditions and Diseases
- Vascular System
- Vital Signs
Clinical Services
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- Advanced Diagnostics
- Alcohol Septal Ablation
- Angiograms
- Angioplasty and Stenting
- Arrhythmia Control
- Artificial Heart Devices: LVAD
- Balloon Valvuloplasty
- Cardiac Electrophysiologic Studies
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Catheter Ablation for Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (Grafting)
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs), Stress Tests, Holter Monitor and Event/Loop Recorders
- Heart Transplant Surgery
- Heart Valve Repair and Replacement
- Implantable Converter Defibrillators and Biventricular Pacing
- Intravascular / Intracoronary and Intracardiac Ultrasound
- Investigational Studies: Percutaneous Valve Replacement
- Nuclear Imaging For Heart Disease (PET scans, MUGA scans)
- Off-pump Surgery
- Pacemakers
- Pediatric Heart Surgery
- Preventive Cardiology
- Robotic Heart Surgery
- Surgery for Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Tilt Testing
- Transmyocardial Revascularization
- Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Treatments for Heart Valve Disease
Cardiology
Echocardiograms
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An echocardiogram is a safe, non-invasive diagnostic test that uses high-frequency sound waves (not detectable by the human ear) to produce images of the heart and its vessels. During an echocardiogram, a modified microphone called a transducer directs sound waves at the heart's tissues. These sound waves bounce off the tissue, and are translated into a moving image on a computer screen. At NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, our cardiologists accurately diagnose structural or functional heart conditions using the most advanced imaging techniques, including:
M-mode echocardiograms, which provide information on the overall size of the heart and its chambers. These measurements can indicate problems with the heart's pumping ability. For example, persons with congestive heart failure have thickened ventricular walls and/or weakened heart contractions.
Two-dimensional echocardiograms, which provide information on the size, shape and movement of the heart. This type of echocardiogram can identify problems with the heart's valves and the pumping ability of its chambers. For example, persons with congestive heart failure have thickened ventricular walls and/or weakened heart contractions.
Doppler echocardiograms, which show the movement of blood through the heart's chambers and evaluate some aspects of heart muscle function in minute detail. This type of test can detect back-flow of blood or difficulty moving blood across a thickened heart valve--conditions that may indicate valvular disease.
Transesophageal (transthoracic) echocardiograms, in which the transducer is placed against the skin of the chest when fine details of the heart's structure need to be studied, or when looking for small blood clots in the heart's chambers. In this form of echocardiogram, the transducer is passed through the mouth and into the esophagus — which is located just behind the heart — so that a clearer picture of the heart can be obtained.
Exercise stress echocardiogram, in which ultrasound pictures of the heart are taken before and after exercise on a treadmill to determine if there might be any blockages of the arteries to the heart.
Dobutamine stress echocardiograms, designed for patients for whom an exercise stress test is not an option. In this test, a resting echocardiogram is performed. Then, dobutamine — a drug that causes the heart rate to increase — is introduced into the circulation, followed by a second echocardiogram. The results of these two tests are then compared to determine whether any areas of the heart are not pumping normally.
Last Modified: 05/26/2009
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Hospital News
- Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center Opens as a Center for Innovative, World-Class Cardiac Care and Patient Education
- Eight-Hour Surgery Removes Life-Threatening Blood Clots From 17-Year-Old's Lungs
- 100th Heart Valve Replacement Implanted Without Open-Heart Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia More
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Clinical Services
Related Links
- Cardiology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
- Cardiology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
- NewYork-Presbyterian Heart
- NewYork-Presbyterian Heart Advanced Diagnostics
- Cardiology Research, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
- Cardiolovascular Research, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
- Cardiology Research, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell
- Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute
