An echocardiogram is a non-invasive test that uses high-frequency sound waves to build images of your heart’s structures. It can create pictures of your heart chambers, valves and walls as well as your blood vessels (aorta, arteries, veins) that are attached to your heart.
Echocardiogram is sometimes shortened to echo or called echocardiography or diagnostic cardiac ultrasound.
An echocardiogram is used to diagnose and monitor heart conditions. It looks at the structure of your heart and its surrounding blood vessels, analyses how blood flows through them and assesses how well your heart functions.
Heart problems an echocardiogram can help diagnose include:
An echocardiogram can take between 15 minutes and an hour.
The cost of an echocardiogram will depend on the reason for your test and your Ramsay hospital of choice.
You will receive a formal quotation price for your echocardiogram following your consultation with one of our expert cardiologists. This formal quote for an echocardiogram will be valid for 60 days.
Ramsay is recognised by all major medical insurers. An echocardiogram is covered by most medical insurance policies as long as it is deemed medically necessary by your doctor. We advise you to obtain written authorisation from your insurance provider before your echocardiogram.
We have a number of finance options if you are paying for your echocardiogram test yourself. We offer interest-free finance so you pay 0% interest, no deposit and benefit from affordable monthly instalments.
An echocardiogram uses safe ultrasound to create a detailed picture of your heart. It helps doctors to diagnose heart problems.
At Ramsay Health Care UK, we invest in the latest technology and diagnostic equipment.
We work in partnership with experienced and skilled cardiologists who routinely perform echocardiograms. Their trained eye detects heart structure and functionality conditions and blood flow problems. Our expert cardiologists provide a reliable diagnosis and a recommended treatment if required.
Echocardiograms are available without waiting at convenient times to suit you at your local Ramsay hospital.
For peace of mind, all Ramsay hospitals follow strict infection control protocol to keep our patients and staff safe.
Cardiac catheterisation is a diagnostic test to find out detailed information about how your heart and coronary arteries are working. It can also provide treatment for some heart conditions at the same time.
A loop recorder implantation is a long-term heart recording device and is implanted for several reasons. Most commonly, loop recorder implantation is performed to look for causes of fainting, palpitations, very fast or slow heartbeats, and hidden rhythms that can cause strokes.
Holter monitor is a small portable device that continuously records your heart’s electrical activity over a period of time whilst you go about your normal daily activities at home.
A stress ECG is a simple test that records the electrical activity of your heart, your heart rate and your blood pressure under different levels of physical activity.
Duchy Hospital, Truro, part of Ramsay Health Care, is excited to announce the launch of Aquablation® therapy, a groundbreaking, minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Saint Piran Pro Cycling, the UK’s number one team, and Cornwall's Duchy Hospital, announce a partnership designed to help promote positive physical and mental wellbeing across Cornish communities.
Duchy Hospital have invested in the latest edition of the Body Jet liposuction machine, learn all about it from Plastic Surgeon, Mrs Rebecca Dunlop.