An arrhythmia is any deviation from the normal, regular rhythm of the heartbeat. During echocardiography, sonographers may detect arrhythmias by observing irregular timing of valve movements, abnormal M-mode patterns, or irregular Doppler waveforms. In obstetric ultrasound, fetal arrhythmias can be identified using M-mode imaging of the fetal heart and Doppler assessment of cardiac flow patterns. While many arrhythmias are benign, such as occasional premature beats, others like sustained tachycardia or bradycardia can be serious and may indicate underlying heart disease requiring treatment. The ability to recognize rhythm abnormalities during an ultrasound examination is an important skill for sonographers.
Sonography Term