Contrast Bubble Study?

[KimC]

Does anyone know what a contrast bubble study is? (I don't think it's a kiddie toy that you can buy at Target).

I can't find any legible info on what it looks for, diagnoses etc. My cardio wants to perform one this week.

Thanks --

 

[fyrfytr]

Hi Kim,
It is called a Contrast echocardiography.
Here is a site on it. www.cvm.tamu.edu/cardiology/notes/bubble.html
I hope this helps you out.

Dave
___________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical

 

[KimC]

Thank you, Dave.

I've searched for why this is done but can't find any info, at least none that makes sense to a non-MD. I also haven't been able to assess any risks, although I heard that it's non-invasive.

I'll call the nurse and get more info but would like to do my own research, too. The test was ordered after last weekend's arrythmia. I'd love to talk to someone who's had it done before.

Best,

 

[Nancy]

Here are a couple of things to look at:

"Contrast echocardiography ("bubble study") __This is a technique where a substance containing "microbubbles" is rapidly injected into a peripheral vein or selectively into the heart. The passage of these microbubbles into the ultrasound beam generates many tiny echoes that temporarily opacify the blood pool being imaged. The microbubbles look like bright sparkles which move with the blood flow. Agitated saline solution, a mixture of saline and the patient's blood, indocyanine green dye and other substances can be used as echo-contrast material. Injection into a peripheral vein will opacify the right heart chambers and aid in detecting an intracardiac right to left shunt. These microbubbles do not pass through the lungs; therefore, visualization of intracardiac left to right shunts or mitral regurgitation requires echo-contrast injection via selective left heart catheterization. "

http://www.mgh.harvard.edu/cardiology/cardiology/ultrasound.html#bubble

 

[Marty]

Why bubbles?

Why bubbles?

The only reason I can think of for the doctor ordering a bubble contrast echo would be if he suspected a "hole" in your heart(an atrial or ventricular septal defect) with a right to left shunt of the blood keeping it from going from the right heart to your lungs for oxygen. However in my experience this diagnosis can be made without contrast bubbles. How it would help with arrythmia diagnosis should be asked of the echocardiogram specialist.