Common Diagnostic Procedures

Question 1

Ambulatory Electrocardiography

Answer 1

Aka Holter monitoring; ECG electrodes placed on chest and small monitor carried around neck; records for 24-48 hours to evaluate rhythm, medication efficacy, and pace maker function.

Question 2

Angiography

Answer 2

Radiologic examination with contrast medium in bvs. Can show plaques in coronary arteries and severity of occlusion

Question 3

Bronchoscope

Answer 3

Direct visualization of bronchial tree by camera

Question 4

Cardiac catheterization

Answer 4

Inserted into leg/arm and directed into the coronary arteries + contrast dye; determine narrowing and occlusion of arteries, BP, and O2

Question 5

Carotid Ultrasound

Answer 5

Sound waves to visualize structure and function of carotid arteries; screens for blockage and placement of stents

Question 6

Chest radiograph

Answer 6

Visualize location, size, shape of heart/lungs/bvs/ribs etc; also reveal fluid in lungs

Question 7

CT scan

Answer 7

Creates pictures of slices called tomography

Question 8

Echocardiography

Answer 8

High frequency sound waves to evaluate heart function, size and function of ventricles
TTE (transthoracic echocardiography) hand held US on chest
TEE (esophageal echocardiography) US passed into esophagus

Question 9

Electrophysiologic Testing

Answer 9

Studies rhythm or electrical activity of hear with 3-5 catheters

Question 10

Fluoroscopy

Answer 10

Continuous X-ray that shows heart and lungs with high dose of radiation

Question 11

Invasive hemodynamics monitoring

Answer 11

Continuous monitoring with intra-arterial catheters and IV lines to measure volume, pressure, and temp
Balloon catheter (swan-ganz) places in pulm art for pulm artery wedge pressure and left artial pressure

Question 12

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Answer 12

Magnetic field and radio waves to assess size and function of the chambers, masses, blockages, etc

Question 13

Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI)

Answer 13

Aka radionuclide stress test/nuclear stress test
How well the muscle is perfused at rest and with exercise
radionuclide injected into blood

Question 14

Pharmacological Stress Test

Answer 14

Diagnostic procedure where phama agents induces stress

Question 15

Phonocardiography

Answer 15

Record of heart sounds and vessel sounds (S3, S4)

Question 16

Pleuroscopy

Answer 16

Examination of lung structures with small video camera

Question 17

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Answer 17

Imaging testing with small amount of radioactive material

Question 18

Thoracentesis

Answer 18

Removal of fluid from pleural space

Question 19

Venography

Answer 19

Radiopaque dye injected into being + X-ray for clot/blockage

Question 20

Ventilation-perfusion scan

Answer 20

Aka lung scan or V/Q scan, uses small amounts of radioactive material for airflow and blood flow within lungs,
Most used for PE