Question
Under what circumstances should a heart ultrasound be performed? I had a heart ultrasound today, and the results showed that there is a hole in the heart, with an echo loss in the middle of the atrial septum (about 1.8), diagnosed as a patent foramen ovale (left-to-right shunt). When would it be recommended to perform a heart ultrasound?
Answer
Heart ultrasounds are primarily used to detect any structural abnormalities in the heart, as well as valve stenosis and blood flow conditions. Through heart ultrasound, one can observe the size of the atria and ventricles, the closure of valves, and the direction of blood flow. Therefore, before undergoing a heart ultrasound, it is usually necessary to undergo other checks such as an ECG, X-ray, and auscultation, suspecting any cardiac-related issues before opting for a heart ultrasound. Currently, heart ultrasound is the only instrument that can directly display valve abnormalities.