Echocardiogram With Bubble Study

A bubble echocardiogram is the same procedure as an echocardiogram, except an IV is placed in the patient’s arm. During certain portions of the imaging, saline with bubbles is injected into the vein; this enables the cardiologist to see if there is a tiny hole between the upper chambers of the heart known as a PFO (patient foramen ovale) or ASD (atrial septal defect).