Common Diagnostic Procedures Flashcards
Ambulatory Electrocardiography
Known as Holter monitoring. Electrodes and small monitor to record ECG for 24-48 hours in order to evaluate rhythm, efficacy of meds, and pacemaker function. Correlated with a diary of patient’s symptoms and activities.
Angiography
Contrast medium inserted in blood vessels with radiologic exam. Can show location of plaques in coronary arteries and extent of occlusion.
Bronchoscopy
Fiber optic instrument that transmits image to eyepiece or video camera that can identify tumors, bronchitis, foreign bodies, and bleeding.
Cardiac Catherterization
Catheter inserted in artery of leg or arm is advanced to the coronary arteries where a contract dye is injected. Can evaluate narrowing or occlusion and measure blood pressure in the heart and oxygen in blood.
Carotid Ultrasound
Ultrasound used to look for blockages of vessels or placement of a stent or function of carotid arteries after endarterectomy.
Chest Radiograph
Used to visualize the location, size, and shape of the heart, lungs, blood vessels, ribs, and bones of the spine. Can reveal fluid in lungs or pleural space, pneumonia, emphysema, cancer, etc.
Computed Tomography (CT)
Diagnostic test that uses an x-ray machine. Creates pictures that are slices of body.
Echocardiography
Uses high frequency sound waves to evaluate function of heart via real time images. Can be transthoracic (non invasive with handheld transducer) or transesophageal (transducer passed through esophagus).
Electrophysiologic Testing
Evaluates rhythm or electrical conduction abnormalities of the heart using catheters inserted in blood vessels and threaded to heart.
Fluoroscopy
Continuous x-ray procedure that shows heart and lungs. High dose of radiation, so electrocardiography often used instead.
Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring
Continuous monitoring via intra-arterial catheters and IV lines that measure pressure, volume, and temperature.
Balloon catheter/Swan-Ganz catheter is placed in the pulmonary aa to obtain pulmonary aa pressure and L atrial pressure.
Thermodilution catheter used to measure cardiac output.
Central venous pressure (CVP) line measures pressure in vena cava or R atrium.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Used to assess size and function of chambers, thickness and movement of walls, extent of damage from MI or heart disease, aortic aneurysms and dissections and plaques/blockages in vessels.
Myocardial Perfusion Imaging (MPI)
Known as radionuclide stress test and nuclear stress test. Shows how well heart muscle is perfused at rest and with exercise. Radionuclide agent injected into blood. Images show reduced perfusion due to narrowing of coronary arteries.
Pharmacologic Stress Test
Diagnostic procedure where cardiovascular stress is induced via pharmacologic agents (adenosine, dipyridamole, and dobutamin) when contraindications to a routine exercise stress tests exist or when pt is unable to exercise due to injury or condition. Combined with imaging modalities like radionuclide imaging and echocardiography.
Phonocardiography
Diagnostic test that creates a graphic record of sounds produced by heart and great vessels. Supplements auscultation and improves detection of S3 and S4 sounds to diagnose heart failure.
