Investigations into Valvular Heart Disease
A diagnosis would have provisionally been made with the help of the history and clinical examination. It would be supported by the following investigations:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) - a record of the heart’s electrical activity.
- Echocardiography - an ultrasound moving picture of the heart which can detect abnormalities of structure and function. The use of Doppler and Colour Doppler can show the direction, velocity and volume of blood flow, thus showing any blockage of, or backwards leakage of blood, for instance.
- Trans-oesophageal echocardiography - if more detailed investigations have to be made.
- Cardiac catheterisation - to measure pressures in the different chambers of the heart and the large blood vessels.
- Chest x-ray - an enlarged heart and other evidence such as pulmonary oedema will show up on X-ray.
