Cardiology Specialists of Orange County Saving one Heart at a Time...We don't miss a beat!     Search for: Back to Labs and Tests Echocardiography Echocardiography is also referred to as cardiac ultrasound.  The examination uses high frequency sound waves to generate pictures of the heart. These images are displayed on a monitor as they are recorded. During the examination the patient lies on their left side while the technician uses a small transducer to image pictures of the heart. Echocardiography can help in the assessment of a variety of heart conditions including previous heart attacks, congenital heart defects as well as valvular abnormalities. The examination takes approximately  15 to 30 minutes.    All Content © 2005 Cardiology Specialists of Orange County