measurements in cardiovascular medicine

Question 1

How to accurately measure arterial blood pressure?

Answer 1

1. Insert cannula into an artery
2. insert cannula into a manometer, gives real time measurements
3. insert catheter into aorta

Question 2

Non invasive arterial blood pressure measurements

Answer 2

1. place cuff over brachial artery
2. increase the pressure exerted by the cuff, until it far exceeds that of artery, causing it to collapse
3. slowly release the pressure from the cuff

Question 3

explain echocardiography

Answer 3

Use of ultrasound to visualise the heart and its movements- able to see if veins are faulty or if any compartments are larger than they should be

Question 4

explain nuclear cardiology

Answer 4

insert radioactive dye- such as technetium

tracer unable to reach all of the heart during exercise, limits blood flow- likely to be stable angina

Question 5

explain cardiac MRI with contrast

Answer 5

gadolinium contrast medium inserted- binds to scars of previous dead tissue- known if there has been a previous heart attack

Question 6

investigating the coronary arteries

Answer 6

inject iodine into the arteries- able to watch the perfusion of the arteries- see if one is occluded

Question 7

angioplasty definition

Answer 7

surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel

Question 8

example of angioplasty

Answer 8

placing a stent