Word parts
What it means
A test that uses sound waves to make moving images of the heart. It shows the size of the chambers, how the valves open and close, fluid around the heart and the ejection fraction, the share of blood the left ventricle pumps out with each beat. A transthoracic echo (TTE) is done with a probe on the chest; a transesophageal echo (TEE) passes a probe down the throat for a closer look.
For the nurse
A chest echo needs no special preparation. For a TEE, the client is NPO beforehand and sedated; afterward, nothing to eat or drink until the gag reflex returns.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | TTE, TEE; EF (ejection fraction) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | ecocardiograma |
| Also written | echocardiograms, echocardiography |
Related terms
ultrasound
An imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to make pictures of the inside of the body.
heart failure
A long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
cardi/o
A word part that means heart.
cardiac output
The amount of blood the heart pumps out in one minute.
murmur
An extra whooshing or swishing sound heard with a stethoscope over the heart, made by turbulent blood flow.