Tests and Procedures

Echocardiography

Intracardiac Echocardiography

Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) uses sound waves to produce images of the heart in the same way that a transthoracic or "regular" echocardiogram does. However, with Intracardiac Echocardiography, a tiny catheter with an ultrasound sensor is passed into the heart where excellent images of the heart can be seen.

Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) is a new catheter imaging technology often used to assist closure procedures for atrial septal defects (ASD), patent foramen ovale (PFO) and ventricular septal defects (VSD)--interventions only performed as open-heart surgical procedures a few years ago.