Cardiac Investigations Flashcards
A patient comes in with chest pain. What investigations would you think of doing?
ECG
CXR
Exercise testing
A patient comes in who is breathless. What investigations would you think of doing?
ECG
CXR
Echocardiography
A patient comes in with palpitations. What investigations would you think of doing?
CXR
24hr ECG
Echocardiography
A patient comes in and you hear a murmur. What investigations would you think of doing?
ECG
Echocardiography
What is the most widely used protocol for exercise ECGs?
Bruce protocol
When are ECGs and BP recorded in an exercise ECG test?
At the end of each stage of the Bruce protocol (every 3 mins)
What does cardiac catheterisation (coronary angiography) involve?
Introducing (flexible) catheters to the heart and coronary vessels via the femoral/radial artery
They can detect pressure changes and inject dye for imaging of arteries, producing an angiogram
How does CT coronary angiography differ from normal coronary angiography?
Inject dye to light up arteries then use XR to create CT image (no catheters inserted)
Less-invasive but do expose to radiation
When would CT coronary angiography be likely used?
In lower risk patients and those with anatomical abnormalities
What are the limitations of CT coronary angiography?
Contrast allergy
Lower resolution
Need specialist equipment
Radiation
Echocardiography is a form of what?
Ultrasound