Diagnostic Tests for Cardiovascular Function Flashcards
•An ECG is useful in the initial diagnosis and monitoring of what?
arrythmias, myocardial infarction, infection and pericarditis
ECG is a noninvasive procedure and can illustrate the _________ activity of the heart as well as detect ____________ imbalance
conduction; electrolyte
A normal baseline ECG is recommended for everyone - why?
it can be used for comparison if cardiovascular disease ever develops
heart murmurs
A stethoscope can detect valvular abnormalities or abnormal shunts of blood
What is an exercise stress test
- May be performed using a bicycle, step or treadmill
- They are useful in checking for exercise-induced problems.
What would an exercise stress test unveil about the heart
- blood pressure problems,
- arrythmias and
- chest pain
What would a chest x ray unveil about the heart
- Chest x-ray films can be used to show the shape and size of the heart
- This may also give evidence of pulmonary congestion associated with heart failure •
- Can see Ca deposits, enlargement of the Heart, valve disorders,
What would nuclear imaging assess
•Thallium assesses the size of the infarct in the heart, the extent of myocardial perfusion and the function of the ventricles
What would abnormal results of a thallium heart scan show?
–Cold spots on the scan, where no thallium shows up, indicate areas of the heart that are not getting an adequate supply of blood. Cold spots appearing both at rest and during exercise may indicate areas where the heart tissue has been damaged. However, “reversible” cold spots appearing only during exercise usually indicate some blockage of the coronary arteries.
SPECT
•Single-photon emission computed topography (SPECT) is a nuclear medicine topographicimaging technique using gamma rays given off by the body
What would a SPECT test assess
•It is a specialized CT-scan that accurately assesses cardiac ischemia at rest
Cardiac Catherterization what does it assess
- This is used to determine central venous pressure CVP and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure PCWP •
- These measurements indicate blood flow to and from the heart
- Most accurate for diagnosis of coronary disease
____________ reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart (preload)
•CVP reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart (preload)
______________ provides an indirect measure of left atrial pressure
•Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP)
Coronary angiography - what does is assess
- Blood flow in the coronary arteries can be visualized with angiography •
- Obstructions can be assessed and then treated with basic catheterization procedures
