ECHO Test in Kathmandu

About this test

An echocardiogram, or ECHO, is a painless ultrasound scan that lets your cardiologist watch your heart beating in real time. A small probe placed on the chest sends harmless sound waves through the skin and builds a moving picture of the four chambers, the four valves, the lining around the heart, and the great vessels leaving it. Unlike an ECG, which records only the heart's electrical signals, an ECHO shows the structure and the pumping action directly — how strongly the left ventricle squeezes (the ejection fraction), whether any valve is leaking or narrowed, whether the muscle walls are thickened, and whether fluid has collected in the sac around the heart. Doppler colour mapping added during the same study measures the direction and speed of blood flow, which is how leaky or tight valves are graded. Doctors commonly order it for breathlessness on exertion, swelling of the ankles, palpitations, fainting, a heart murmur picked up on examination, or after a heart attack to check the remaining pump function. In Nepal it is also a key test for following up rheumatic heart disease, which still affects many young people after untreated childhood throat infections, and for assessing congenital heart defects in children. The findings are usually interpreted together with your symptoms, blood pressure, ECG, and chest X-ray to reach a complete picture. The scan involves no radiation, no needles, and no injection for a routine study, so it is safe to repeat as often as your treatment requires.

Sample type

No sample required (ultrasound imaging of the heart)

Preparation

No fasting and no special preparation needed for a standard transthoracic study. Wear a loose top that is easy to remove, as the chest must be exposed for the probe. Allow around 30–45 minutes for the scan. If a stress echo is planned, wear comfortable shoes and tell us about any chest pain, recent heart attack, or medications such as beta-blockers beforehand.

Turnaround time

Reports for ECHO are typically ready within: Same Day. Reports can be collected at the clinic during opening hours or shared via WhatsApp once they are ready.

Also known as

Other imaging tests we run

These are routinely ordered alongside ECHO or as part of the same diagnostic workup.

How to book

WhatsApp is the fastest way — message us with the test name and your preferred time, and we'll confirm a slot the same day. You can also walk into the clinic at Rumba Chowk, Sanobharang any day between 7AM and 8PM, or fill in our online booking form.