Ultrasound is an examination used to explore the anatomy and functions of certain organs. Ultrasound can be either internal or external:
In the case of external ultrasound, the doctor applies a probe against the skin at the level of the organ they wishes to explore. This probe emits ultrasound waves which pass through the tissues and are then sent back to they in the form of an echo. This is a relatively quick and painless examination, performed in the patient’s bed.
In the case of internal ultrasound, the probe is inserted into a natural cavity to get closer to the organ to be explored. For example, in some cases, an external ultrasound of the heart (trans-thoracic ultrasound) is not sufficient to get a clear view of the desired structures. In this case, the doctor will perform a transoesphageal ultrasound: the ultrasound probe is passed through the mouth into the esophagus to get closer to the heart.
