🩺 Echocardiogram Explanation

High-Yield OSCE Points 🧠

📚 Knowledge

An echocardiogram (echo) is an ultrasound scan of the heart and nearby blood vessels.
Used to assess heart structure, function, chamber sizes, wall motion, and valve competency.
Indicated post-MI, in suspected heart failure, murmurs, arrhythmias, or unexplained breathlessness.
Shows the ejection fraction – a key measure of left ventricular function.
Painless, non-invasive, uses no radiation, and takes ~15–30 minutes.
Patient lies on their side while a probe (with gel) is applied to the chest.
No specific preparation needed; outpatient basis; no risks or recovery time.

✅ Strategy & Summary

Clearly explain what an echo is, how it's done, and its purpose.
Provide reassurance – painless, no radiation, short duration.
Check ICE – especially concerns about heart failure.
Emphasize benefits: clarifying symptoms like breathlessness or fatigue.
Correct misunderstandings (e.g. heart failure not only due to prior MI).

Full Word-for-Word OSCE Script 📜

❓ What is an echocardiogram?

Doctor: "An echocardiogram is a jelly scan of your heart and the nearby blood vessels."

"The scanner uses sound waves or 'echos' to make a picture, so there's no radiation."

"We will be able to see the 4 chambers of the heart, including the valves."

"We are looking to see that all parts of the heart are pumping efficiently and that the valves aren't leaky."

"We can also look at the size of your heart, and calculate how much blood it is pumping."

"The procedure is generally quite quick and takes 15-30 minutes."

"There are no complications to this procedure and it isn't painful."

"You'll have this procedure as an outpatient, which means you don't have to stay in hospital, instead you can go home straight after."

💡 Why an echocardiogram is needed

Doctor: "Sometimes after a heart attack, the heart doesn't pump as well as it used to, or valves might become leaky."

"When this happens, people get symptoms such as breathlessness and wheeziness, such as you have."

"When someone gets symptoms, like breathlessness, because their heart isn't pumping as well as it used to, it's known as heart failure."

"We want to make sure that all parts of the heart are moving and pumping efficiently and that the valves aren't leaky."

"We also want to look at the size of your heart, and calculate how much blood it is pumping."

❤️ What is heart failure?

Doctor: "Heart failure is where your heart isn't pumping as effectively."

"There are lots of causes of heart failure, including heart attacks, irregular heart rhythm, heart valve problems or murmurs, and high blood pressure."

"It's quite common in your age group, with about 10% of people over 70 having heart failure."

"Heart failure causes symptoms like breathlessness, tiredness, fainting, needing to sleep on more pillows, and a chronic cough."

"We classify heart failure that has been going on a long time by the amount of blood pumped by one of the chambers of the heart, called the left ventricle. This is called your left ventricle ejection fraction."

"However, you can also classify heart failure by symptoms and effect on life."

💬 Exploration & Empathy

Doctor: "Do you have any questions about the scan or why it's being done?"

✅ Strategy and summary

Doctor: "Could you please summarise back to me the key points to ensure I’ve explained everything clearly?"