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How you prepare

By Mayo Clinic staff

No 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.

References
  1. Echocardiography. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/echo/echo_all.html. Accessed May 13, 2010.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Manning WJ. Principles of Doppler echocardiography. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 11, 2010.
MY00095 July 16, 2010

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