Ultrasound detection of atrial fibrillation

Dear Ask The Doctor: Can atrial fibrillation be detected with an ultrasound test?.

Dear Chad: Ultrasound may help detect arrhythmias, but best would be an EKG that records the altered heart rythym for accurate diagnosis. However ultrasound is useful for the assessment of the underlying heart and valve conditions along with the heart rhythm. Ambulatory ultrasound may be useful to detect occasional fibrillation that may be missed with one time EKG.