What Is a Bubble Echocardiogram?

@anon28009 - Regarding to feeling faint when you get too warm: have your thyroid, parathyroid, and, if necessary thereafter, the pituitary gland checked out, but especially start with thyroid. I've got thyroid tumors, but my regular thyroid panel has come out normal, although they are prepping to do a thyroid uptake scan, as they think my nodules appear cancerous (solid, and, multiplying, and, complex - cystic and solid complex - and, these are cancerous features. I'm already a cancer patient, bu, my CEA levels jumped up -- all the more reason to rule in/rule out thyroid cancer, via the thyroid uptake scan. The thyroid can cause problems regulating temperature. I'm very temperature sensitive, and I will often feel very hot to touch, but my actual internal temp is very low, which is hazardous to one's body. And thyroid problems can lead to cardiac problems, as well, and very serious heart problems, depending on what's going on with your whole symptoms.

Try keeping a journal of input/output of foods/liquids - stool and pee, and, body temp, and any other symptoms, like palpitations (ventricular events), and, tachycardia, low/high BP, cardiac decompensation - feeling very lightheaded, nausea, vomiting, BM, pain, pale, puke, etc. All serious cardio symptoms should be checked out in an ER, if you can, and follow up ASAP with a cardio and/or your primary care physician.

I'm also being sent to an endocrinologist, regarding the thyroid tumors - with a provisional diagnosis of thyroid toxicosis with ectopic nodule(s) and mention of thyroid crisis/storm, and that is serious! Thank God for my new Internal medicine doctor who is from the Philippines. Doctors and nurses in Philippines are more intensely trained - and, my doctor is a Diplomate (not diplomat), which means he is always continuing his education, continuous learning. I finally lucked into a great PCP and his office!

As for the bubble test, I had mine done, because I have been having problems with TIA symptoms, and, I too was told the bubble test will look for holes in the heart. It was easy as could be, and was the first time I had one done. The place where my echo was done, their protocols include the bubble test, and I'm glad they did it; it is more thorough, and therefore diagnostic.

Good luck to all of you, and if anyone tries to just blame it on stress, especially if you're a female, don't just believe that. You know your body, you can keep a journal, which is so helpful to you and your medical providers, and, keep searching for the right diagnosis, as we all deserve the best care possible.

Thank you. -- Jo

Re: agitated normal saline. How much do we need to inject and how much it will cost ? Do we require a cardiologist on site to perform a bubble study?

How do you feel after a bubble test? Can I go to work the next day?

I ad a bubble test today and did not have to cough or bear down and she said she had enough at rest. What does that mean?

Is there a CPT code used for the Bubble Study, separate from the normal echo codes?

I've had weakness, chest discomfort, shortness of breath and fluid retention in my abdomen for several years on and off.

I had the flu or something like it in 2005. I recovered, but about a week after the flu I developed a dry cough and then chest pains and shortness of breath. I went to the ER and they said it wasn't a heart attack and sent me home. I was weak and short of breath for months.

I cannot fly in an airplane anymore without getting chest pain and every time I start an aerobic exercise program like the treadmill I get weak and start to retain fluid after a few days of aerobics.

I've had multiple echos and stress echos, even a cardiac cath and a CT angio but they cannot find the problem. Can anyone relate to this? It's so frustrating.

So I had a bubble echo today and it was the first time. They were investigating the results of other cardiology testing that was done during pregnancy.

I had three abnormal EKGs when I was pregnant and that was cause for concern. Apparently I have a hole in my septum. My question is, if a lot of bubbles leaked to the other side, do I need to be more concerned? About half or more of the bubbles went to the other side.

I had a echo bubble test yesterday. The tech could not see bubble. Injected three times. What would cause that?

is there anything special you need to do before taking an echo bubble study?

yes you can eat and drink before the test. I had the echo ultrasound today, but they could not get a vein for the bubble test.

i am having a echo and bubble study. I have chest pain have blacked out headaches, my feet are blue and lost all feeling in my toes. this is the first time I've seen a cardiovascular doctor. this has gone on for a year, and my regular doctor kept saying stress until he saw my legs and feet.

I had a bubble test done and it was painless (thanks to my super awesome nurse who was great at putting in the IV). They inject air into saline solution so there are a million little bubbles. The solution looks opaque rather than clear.

That is injected into a vein, which enters the heart and should then be carried to the lungs where the bubbles dissipate. Non-bubbly blood then enters the other side of the heart. If there is a hole in the septum, the bubbles will stream through into the other side of the heart. So, bubbles in two sides of the heart= hole.

What are the risks of this procedure? If they hit an artery instead of a vein when they release the solution could it cause heart damage? Are there any serious risks involved?

yes, you can eat and drink before the echo bubble study.

anon27254: The test has no pre-procedure requirements. However, the tech told me it was probably a good idea that I had skipped my morning cup of coffee. She said coffee *sometimes* makes the heart beat faster. The tech and the doctor were pretty vague as to why I needed the bubble test. Other than the needle-prick to insert an IV line, the only discomfort came when the tech pressed the probe between two of my ribs and later when she pressed it against the top of my belly. No big deal.

anon28009 - Have you been tested for syncope? The cardiologist would need to do a tilt table test to determine. That would cause fainting. It is a lack of blood flow to the brain - you need to stay hydrated. some take salt tablets, and some are put on blood pressure meds to regulate the pressure - even if you have really low pressure. Something to check into.

I am being scheduled for a bubble test. The Heart Echo showed an abnormality in the lower part of my heart. I get weak easily and feel heart palpitations with minor activity. I have headaches, neck pain and shoulder pain as soon as I get out of bed in the morning which is somewhat relieved with pain meds and muscle relaxers but returns within 3 hours after the meds. I hope there is a non invasive answer to this besides medications. I have heard so many people being addicted to pain meds that it worries me.

I have also been diagnosed with myofascial pain syndrome so I am trying to find out which ailment is causing which symptoms.

My doctor has ordered a echo with bubble of the lungs. Perhaps this would show more than CT Angio.

I had a bubble test done, but the ultrasound was focused on my eyelids, temples and two pressure points on the back of my head. My test results were 5x5x5, too numerous to count.

I was told I probably had a hole in my heart, which took me to a cardiologist and then after his test findings - no hole and no problems, I had a CT Angio to see if the hole or leakage was in the lung area, still no results. I feel faint if I get too warm.

Not sure where to go or what to do next. Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Can you eat/drink before the test?