Doppler echocardiography
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
Doppler echocardiography is a procedure which uses ultrasound technology to examine the heart by creating an image of it and measuring the speed and direction of blood flow. This procedure is frequently used to examine children's hearts for heart disease because there is no age or size requirement.
- Continuous generation of ultrasound waves coupled with continuous reception Two crystal transducer with dual function: one crystal devoted to generation, one for receiving
- Measures all velocities along transducer beam
- Density of signal can be compared to forward flow
- Shape of flow curve gives information about pressure gradient across the valve
- Advantage: ability to measure high blood flow velocities accurately
- Disadvantage: lack of selectivity or depth discrimination
