Provides information as to whether there may be holes in the heart and is part of the echo study.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT: An IV will be started and a technician agitates the saline to create bubbles. Patients are asked to remove their clothes from the waist up and cover themselves with a gown. A small amount of warm gel is applied as a probe moves over the chest to produce images of the heart. These bubbles are sent through the IV and shown in the heart. You will be asked to bear down and cough to see if the bubbles pass from one chamber to the other. The saline passes through the system naturally and the IV is removed. This test lasts for 30 minutes.