Diagnostic Procedures

Question 1

Ambulatory electrocardiography

Answer 1

• holter monitoring
• ecg electrodes are placed on the chest and attached to a small recording monitor carried in a pocket
• ecg is recorded for 24-48 hours

Question 2

angiography

Answer 2

• radiologic examination that injects a contrast medium into blood vessels
• can show the location of plaques in the coronary arteries and the extent of occlusion

Question 3

bronchoscopy

Answer 3

• a procedure for direct visualization of the bronchial tree performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
• can identify tumors, bronchitis, foreign bodies and bleeding
• tissue specimens may be removed from the lungs by biopsy or bronchoalveolar lavage

Question 4

cardiac catheterization

Answer 4

• a thin catheter inserted into a artery in the leg or arm is advanced to the coronary arteries where a contrast dye is injected
• can evaluate narrowing or occlusion of the coronary arteries and measure blood pressure in the heart and oxygen in the blood

Question 5

carotid ultrasound

Answer 5

• uses sound wave to examine the structure and function of carotid artery
• screens for blockage that may indicate increased risk of stroke and to evaluate the placement of a stent or the function of the artery after a carotid endarerectomy

Question 6

chest radiograph

Answer 6

• visualize the location, size, shape of the heart, lungs, blood vessels, ribs, and bones of the spine
• can reveal fluid in lungs or pleural space, pneumonia, emphysema, cancer, and other conditions

Question 7

CT scan

Answer 7

• creates picture of organ and surrounding structure

Question 8

Echocardiography

Answer 8

• uses high frequency sound waves non invasively to evaluate the function of the heart via real time images
• can provide information on the size and function of the ventricles, thickness of the septums, and function of the walls, valves, nd chambers of the heart
• transthoracic echocardiography is placed on chest
• trancsesophageal echocardiography is passed in to the esophagus

Question 9

electrophysiologic testing

Answer 9

• evaluates the rhythm or electrical conduction abnormalities of the heart using three to five catheters inserted into a blood vessel and threaded to the heart

Question 10

fluoroscopy

Answer 10

• involves a relatively high dose of radiation

- has been largely replaced by echocardiography and other tests

Question 11

invasive hemodynamic monitoring

Answer 11

• continuous monitoring of the cardiovascular status is performed by intra-arterial catheters and intravenous lines that measure pressure, volume, and temp
• a balloon catheter is placed in the pulmonary artery to obtain pulmonary artery wedge pressure and left atrial pressure
• a thermodilution catheter can be used to measure cardiac output
• a central venous line measures pressure in the vena cava or right atrium

Question 12

MRI

Answer 12

create 3D images to assess size and function of chambers, thickness and movement of walls, extent of damage of MI or heart disease, structural problems in the aorta, and the presence of plaque or blockages in blood vessels

Question 13

myocardial perfusion imaging

Answer 13

• radionuclide stress test and nuclear stress test show how well the heart muscle is perfused at rest and under exercise stress
• images of the heart reveal areas that have reduced blood supply due to narrowing of one or more coronary arteries

Question 14

pharmacologic stress test

Answer 14

• is induced by pharmacologic agents when contraindications to a routine exercise stress test exist, or when the patient is unable to exercise due to injury or another debilitating condition
• pharmacologic agents used include adenosine, dipryidamole, and dobutamine

Question 15

phonocardiography

Answer 15

• creates a graphic record, or phonogram, of the sounds produced by the heart and great vessels
• supplements auscultation and improves the detection of S3 and S4 heart sounds in the diagnosis of heart failure

Question 16

Pleuroscopy

Answer 16

• includes examination of the lung surfaces, pleura, and pleural space using small video cameral inserted between the ribs into the pleural space

Question 17

positron emission tomography

Answer 17

• small amount of radioactive material is injected, inhaled, or swallowed
• increased radioactive material tends to accumulate in areas with high levels of chemical activity corresponding to areas of disease

Question 18

thoracentesis

Answer 18

• removal of fluid from the pleural space with a needle for microbiologic and cytologic studies

Question 19

venography

Answer 19

• a radiopaque dye is injected into a vein while an xray procedure creates an image of the vein to detect clot or blockage

Question 20

ventilation perfusion scan

Answer 20

• lung scan or V/Q scan
• study airflow and blood flow within the lungs
• used most commonly with the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism