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Echocardiography is a technique that uses sound waves (ultrasound) to visualize the internal structure of the heart and the movement of the heart wall and valves. This technique also shows the size of the heart chambers and how well they are working. Echocardiography is useful in investigating heart attacks, while stress echocardiography is useful in diagnosing CAD. Spectral Doppler echocardiography uses a special display to analyse the speed and direction of blood flow in the cardiovascular system.
Contrast echocardiography and trans-oesophageal echocardiography utilize non-invasive echocardiographic imaging combined with other (invasive) procedures. Contrast echocardiography uses a dye injected into the cardiovascular system while trans-oesophageal echocardiography uses specialized instrument inserted into the body.