Echocardiography (Echo) is a safe, noninvasive, effective method for cardiac diagnosis. It is often performed on an outpatient basis, but is equally safe and useful with hospitalized, seriously ill patients.

Echocardiography uses inaudible sound waves (known as ultrasound) that are generated by a small probe placed on the chest wall. These waves move harmlessly through the body, bounce off the heart and blood vessels, and then return to the probe to be translated by a computer into a picture.

A method known as color Doppler is used for accurate measurement of the severity of valve regurgitation and congenital heart disease.