INVESTIGATIONS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

Question 1

What are the types of cardiovascular investigations?

Answer 1

1. ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY
2. ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
3. AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR(ABPM)
4. HOLTER
5. STRESS ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY
6. CHEST X RAY
7. ANGIOGRAPHY
8. CARDIAC ENZYMES

Question 2

What is ECG and it’s indications?

Answer 2

An ECG studies the electrical activity of the heart
It is indicated for:
* Chest pain:To determine the cause of chest pain
* Heart rhythm:To identify irregular heartbeats, such as palpitations, fluttering, or pounding
* Shortness of breath:To evaluate shortness of breath, which may be a sign of a heart problem
* Dizziness:To evaluate dizziness, which may be a sign of a heart problem
* Fainting:To evaluate fainting, which may be a sign of a heart problem
* Fatigue:To evaluate severe tiredness, which may be a sign of a heart problem
* Heart health:To assess the overall health of the heart before surgery or other procedures
* Pacemaker:To see how well an implanted pacemaker is working
* Heart medications:To see how well certain heart medications are working
* Baseline:To get a baseline tracing of the heart’s function during a physical exam
* Family history:To evaluate a strong history of heart disease in the family

An ECG is often the first test done to determine whether a person has heart disease.

Question 3

What is an echocardiogram?

Answer 3

An echocardiogram, or echo, is a noninvasive imaging test that can be used to diagnose a variety of heart conditions.

Question 4

Indication of an echocardiogram

Answer 4

• Suspected heart failure
• Hypertension and suspected left ventricular hypertrophy
• Suspected cardiac mass
• Pulmonary disease
• Pre-cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation
• Palpitations and pre-syncope/syncope
• Suspected pericardial disease
• Established cardiomyopathies
• Aortopathy
• Elective non-cardiac surgery
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Fainting
• Unusual fatigue
• A strong heart murmur or a change in a heart murmur
• Pain or numbness in the extremities

Question 5

What are some abnormal findings in an Echocardiogram?

Answer 5

• Heart valves:Abnormal valves can be damaged, regurgitate (leak), or narrow (stenosis).
• Heart muscle:The heart’s muscles may be weakened or damaged, or there may be impaired wall motion.
• Blood flow:Blood flow may be abnormal or turbulent, which could indicate a vascular or intracardiac abnormality.
• Heart size:The heart or ventricles may be enlarged.
• Pericardium:The pericardium, the membrane around the heart, may be swollen or irritated (pericarditis), or there may be excess fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion)
• Endocarditis:The inner lining of the heart’s valves and chambers may be dangerously inflamed.
• Blood clots:Blood clots may be present in the heart chambers or be the result of a stroke or TIA.
• Congenital heart disease:The heart may have a congenital defect.
• Atrial fibrillation:The heartbeat may be irregular and rapid.
• Cardiovascular disease:The heart muscles may be damaged due to high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

Question 6

What does an ECG with no P wave indicate?

Answer 6

Atrial fibrillation

Question 6

What does an ECG with a tall T wave indicate?

Answer 6

Myocardial infarction

Question 6

What does an ECG with a prolonged QT wave indicate?

Answer 6

Calcium abnormalities

Question 7

What are types of Heart Failure?

Answer 7

HF with preserved ejection fraction
HF with reduced ejection fraction
Marginally reduced ejection fracture

Question 8

What is Ejection Fraction?

Answer 8

Ejection fraction is measured as a percentage of the total amount of blood in your heart that is pumped out with each heartbeat.