Cardiovascular Procedures

by Nina Ruscheva

Echocardiography

Diagnostic method used to visualize and evaluate the blood flow, internal cardiac structures,

and the activity of

the valves and

cardiac muscle.

How it works:

This method uses ultrasonic waves that are reflected on the border between the blood and the

thicker structures

of the heart and

makes an image

of the object in

real time.

Echocardiography

Uses:• Diagnosing and determining the severity of valvular

disease.• Assessment of ventricular function during systole

and diastole.• Detection of pericardial effusion.• Diagnosis and assessment of congenital heart

disease.• Identify the source of embolism.• Detection of infective endocarditis .• Diagnosis and assessment of coronary artery

disease.• Establishment of aortic dissection.• Assessment of cardiomyopathies.

Echocardiography

Types of Echocardiography:

• Transthoracic Echocardiography

• Stress Echocardiography • Transesophageal

Echocardiography • Fetal Echocardiography • Three-Dimensional

Echocardiography

Echocardiography

Holter MonitorHolter monitor is a

small, portable device similar to an EKG. An EKG is a simple test that detects and records the heart's electrical activity. It's a common test for diagnosing heart rhythm

problems.

How it works:

• A Holter monitor is about the size of a large deck of cards. You can clip it to a belt or carry it in a pocket. Wires connect the device to sensors (called electrodes) that are stuck to your chest using sticky patches. These sensors detect your heart's electrical signals, and the monitor records your heart rhythm.

• Holter monitors sometimes are called continuous EKGs (electrocardiograms). This is because Holter monitors record your heart rhythm continuously for 24 to 48 hours.

Holter Monitor

Uses:

• Diagnose problems with the heart's rate or rhythm • Diagnose arrhythmias. • Detect silent myocardial ischemia.• Diagnose whether a heart rhythm problem is harmless or

requires treatment.

respiratory arrhythmia

Holter Monitor

Cardiac Enzyme TestA cardiac enzyme test is a blood test that measures cardiac enzyme levels to assess how well the cardiovascular system is functioning.

Cardiac Enzyme Test

• When the heart muscle is damaged, enzymes are released from the heart muscle cells into the bloodstream.

• Blood is drawn two or three times, several hours apart to check for changes in levels of the cardiac enzymes.

How it works:

Uses:

• Cardiac enzyme tests tell the health care team whether the patient have suffered a heart attack, the severity of the attack, the possible onset of a heart attack, and they help them to monitor his treatment.

• Cardiac enzyme tests can be used to help diagnose a variety of other cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure and alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac Enzyme Test

Types of cardiac enzymes tests:

• Creatine kinase (CK)

• protein troponin (Tnl)

• protein myoglobin

Cardiac Enzyme Test