---
title: What constitutes a thorough echocardiogram?
description: the ideal study contains still images & loops, with basic measurements included through post-processing. Including 2D, m-mode, Spectral Doppler & Color Dop
---

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### What constitutes a thorough echocardiogram?

# Our Protocol

When assessing a patient, there is a minimum set of images that should be obtained in order to allow a thorough evaluation. An ideal study contains both still images and loops, with basic measurements included through post-processing. This includes 2D, m-mode, Spectral Doppler, and Color Doppler modalities. A simultaneous ECG is considered ideal, although is not mandatory for image interpretation.

![Right parasternal long axis](https://www.coastalveterinarycardiology.com/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/undefined-1.png "Right parasternal long axis")

## The right parasternal long axis

- 4 chamber – RA, RV, LA, LV
- 5 chamber including the aortic valve/LVOT
- Color flow on the mitral valve
- Color flow on the aortic valve
- Color flow on the tricuspid valve and CW Doppler if TR present
- In congenital cases, color on the interatrial septum and the perimembranous IVS

![image-png-Jun-08-2022-02-45-57-16-PM](https://www.coastalveterinarycardiology.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/image-png-Jun-08-2022-02-45-57-16-PM.png?width=300&height=277&name=image-png-Jun-08-2022-02-45-57-16-PM.png "image-png-Jun-08-2022-02-45-57-16-PM")

![image-png-4](https://www.coastalveterinarycardiology.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/image-png-4.png?width=300&height=281&name=image-png-4.png "image-png-4")

## Right parasternal short axis

- LV, 2D and m-mode
- Base view for LA/Ao
- Tricuspid valve
- Color of the tricuspid valve
- Base view with PA/RVOT outflow
- Color of PV/RVOT
- Doppler – PW and CW of PV/RVOT

![Left parasternal](https://www.coastalveterinarycardiology.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/undefined-Jun-08-2022-02-41-08-28-PM.png?width=300&height=284&name=undefined-Jun-08-2022-02-41-08-28-PM.png "Left parasternal")

## Left parasternal

- Left apical 4 and 5 chamber
- Color left apical 4 and 5 chamber
- Doppler of LVOT, especially cats
- RV/tricuspid valve
- Color RV tricuspid valve

![Left cranial](https://www.coastalveterinarycardiology.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/image-png-Jun-08-2022-02-42-51-48-PM.png?width=258&height=300&name=image-png-Jun-08-2022-02-42-51-48-PM.png "Left cranial")

## **Left cranial**

- RV/TV (ideally if there is suspicion for a tumor)
- Color TV and Doppler if TR present

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