How you prepare
By Mayo Clinic staffNo special preparations are necessary for a standard transthoracic echocardiogram. Your doctor will ask you not to eat for a few hours beforehand if you're having a transesophageal or stress echocardiogram. If you'll be walking on a treadmill during a stress echocardiogram, wear comfortable shoes. If you're having a transesophageal echocardiogram, you won't be able to drive afterward because of the sedating medication you'll receive. Be sure to make arrangements to get home before you have your test.
- Echocardiography. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/echo/echo_all.html. Accessed May 13, 2010.
- Douglas PS, et al. ACCF/ASE/ACEP/ASNC/SCAI/SCCT/SCMR 2007 appropriateness criteria for transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2007;50:187.
- Pellikka PA, et al. American Society of Echocardiography recommendations for performance, interpretation, and application of stress echocardiography. Journal of American Society of Echocardiography. 2007;20:1021.
- Manning WJ. Principles of Doppler echocardiography. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 11, 2010.

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