CARDIOVASCULAR DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURESLauren Fowlkes

PROCEDURE TYPESCardiovascular diagnostics explore the

function and the current health of the cardiovascular system (i.e. the heart, arteries, veins and capillaries). The procedures are used to diagnose and treat a variety of cardiovascular abnormalities and diseases. The three diagnostic procedures addressed in this presentation are…

Cardiac Enzymes

Stress Testing

Echocardiography

CARDIAC ENZYMES

The cardiac enzyme test is a basic blood test that measures the level of specific enzymes related to injury of the heart muscle.

The enzymes measured in the test are creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT).

INDICATIONS Elevated enzyme levels

could indicate that a patient is having a heart attack or has a threatening heart attack.

Elevated enzymes levels post bypass surgery could indicate injury of the heart muscle as a result of surgery.

Subsided enzyme levels could indicate that a procedure or medicine has successfully restored blood flow to the injured area of the heart.

STRESS TESTING The stress test evaluates cardiovascular fitness.

A trained technician uses a treadmill or bicycle to determine the amount of stress one’s heart can manage before an abnormal rhythm or evidence of ischemia arises. These abnormalities are monitored through electrocardiography (EKG), oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure.

INFORMATION PROVIDED

Whether or not a patient suffers from coronary heart disease and needs further evaluation

If there is adequate blood flow to the heart If a person’s heart medication is properly

controlling angina and ischemia If a person has abnormal heart rhythms Whether or not a procedure to improve blood

flow within heart vessels has been effective

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Echocardiography is the study of a patient’s heart muscle, heart valves and their risk for heart disease by the use of the noninvasive ultrasound technology. The test produces ultrasound generated images of the heart.

TYPES OF ECHOCARDIOGRAMS Transthoracic echocardiogram- the

standard type that uses a hand held ultrasound transducer on the patient’s chest

Transesophageal echocardiogram- the transducer is placed in the patient’s esophagus, which is located close to the heart, allowing for the production of clear images

Stress echocardiogram- a standard echocardiogram performed just prior to and after a stress test

Dobutamine stress echocardiogram- a patient is given a drug that stimulates a exercise responses in the heart and the standard echocardiogram is performed

Intravascular Ultrasound- the transducer is threaded into heart blood vessels via a catheter, providing detailed information about atherosclerosis of heart blood vessels

Echocardiography Machine

INFORMATION PROVIDED

Assessment of overall heart function If a patient has heart disease and if so

what type If a patient’s heart disease has

progressed If medical or surgical treatments were

effective

CONCLUSION

Cardiovascular diagnostic procedures are critical to the assessment and treatment of patients suffering from cardiovascular abnormalities and heart disease. As science and medicine continue to evolve, and as new research arises these technologies are going to continue to expand the information that these tests provide.