Cardiac Investigations

Question 1

A patient comes in with chest pain. What investigations would you think of doing?

Answer 1

ECGCXRExercise testing

Question 2

A patient comes in who is breathless. What investigations would you think of doing?

Answer 2

ECGCXREchocardiography

Question 3

A patient comes in with palpitations. What investigations would you think of doing?

Answer 3

CXR24hr ECGEchocardiography

Question 4

A patient comes in and you hear a murmur. What investigations would you think of doing?

Answer 4

ECGEchocardiography

Question 5

What is the most widely used protocol for exercise ECGs?

Answer 5

Bruce protocol

Question 6

When are ECGs and BP recorded in an exercise ECG test?

Answer 6

At the end of each stage of the Bruce protocol (every 3 mins)

Question 7

What does cardiac catheterisation (coronary angiography) involve?

Answer 7

Introducing (flexible) catheters to the heart and coronary vessels via the femoral/radial arteryThey can detect pressure changes and inject dye for imaging of arteries, producing an angiogram

Question 8

How does CT coronary angiography differ from normal coronary angiography?

Answer 8

Inject dye to light up arteries then use XR to create CT image (no catheters inserted)Less-invasive but do expose to radiation

Question 9

When would CT coronary angiography be likely used?

Answer 9

In lower risk patients and those with anatomical abnormalities

Question 10

What are the limitations of CT coronary angiography?

Answer 10

Contrast allergyLower resolutionNeed specialist equipmentRadiation

Question 11

Echocardiography is a form of what?

Answer 11

Ultrasound