Cardiovascular Essentials for Medical Assistants-Slides: Cardiovascular Medicine

Slides: Cardiovascular Medicine – Diagnostics and Interventions
Pdf Summary
The document provides a summary of various cardiovascular medicine diagnostics procedures. Here are the key points:<br /><br />1. EKG (Electrocardiogram): It records the electrical signals in the heart. The procedure is painless and non-invasive, requiring the placement of electrodes on the patient's body.<br /><br />2. Holter Monitoring and Event Recorders: Holter monitors and event recorders are wearable devices used to record the heart's rhythm. They are painless and non-invasive, with electrodes and wires hidden under clothing. Patients are required to wear the device for a set duration and keep a diary of their activities and symptoms.<br /><br />3. Stress Testing (Exercise and Pharmacological): Stress testing evaluates how the heart functions during physical activity. It can be performed on a treadmill/bike or with the administration of a stress pharmacological agent. Patients may be asked to hold their medications prior to testing and should wear comfortable clothing.<br /><br />4. Echocardiography (Echo, Stress Echo, and TEE): Echocardiograms use ultrasound to evaluate the structure and function of the heart. They are painless and non-invasive, with gel applied to the patient's chest and a probe used to obtain images. Stress echocardiograms and transesophageal echocardiograms are variations of the procedure.<br /><br />5. Non-invasive Vascular Testing: This includes carotid ultrasound, abdominal vascular ultrasound, venous Doppler ultrasound, and arterial Doppler ultrasound. These tests use sound waves to examine blood flow through various arteries and veins in the body. They are painless and non-invasive, requiring the placement of a probe on the patient's body.<br /><br />6. Nuclear Cardiology (SPECT and PET): Nuclear cardiology involves the use of radioactive materials to evaluate blood supply, heart function, and specific heart conditions. It includes myocardial perfusion SPECT/PET studies for blood supply evaluation and other specialized scans for amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, and cardiac viability.<br /><br />7. CT Procedures: Cardiac CT procedures, such as CCTA (Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiogram), calcium scoring CT, and peripheral angiography CT, are used to evaluate the heart's anatomy and blood vessels. These procedures require the administration of iodine-based contrast material and may involve breath-holding and lying flat on the scanner.<br /><br />8. MRI Procedures: Cardiac MRI involves the use of radio waves and magnets to create detailed images of the heart. The procedure is painless and non-invasive, requiring the patient to lie flat on the MRI scanner. Some patients may receive MRI contrast for enhanced imaging.<br /><br />9. Cath Procedures: Diagnostic cardiac catheterization is a procedure that involves inserting a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into blood vessels to diagnose heart disease. It provides information about the heart's structure, function, and blood vessels. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary angioplasty, which can be combined with cardiac catheterization, is used to open narrowed coronary arteries and improve blood flow.<br /><br />10. Lab Assessments: Lab assessments include cholesterol tests (lipid panel), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), troponin T or I, chemistry panel, complete blood count, and PT/INR and PTT tests. These tests help evaluate various aspects of heart health, such as lipid levels, heart muscle damage, clotting factors, kidney and liver function, and blood counts.<br /><br />It's important to note that specific instructions and patient preparation may vary based on the healthcare provider and individual patient circumstances.
Keywords
cardiovascular medicine diagnostics
EKG
Holter Monitoring
Stress Testing
Echocardiography
Non-invasive Vascular Testing
Nuclear Cardiology
CT Procedures
MRI Procedures
Cath Procedures