Cardiovascular Essentials for Medical Assistants-Video: Cardiovascular Medicine

Video Transcription
Video Summary
In this video, Jamie Warren, the VP for Care Transformation with MedAxiom, discusses various tests and procedures related to cardiovascular medicine diagnostics. The first section covers EKG, Holter monitoring, and event recorders, which are used to evaluate the electrical activity in the heart. EKG, also known as ECG, is a painless non-invasive test that records the electrical signals in the heart using electrodes and wires placed on the chest. Holter monitoring involves wearing a device for 24-48 hours to monitor heart activity, and event recorders allow for longer-term monitoring for up to 30 days.<br /><br />The next section focuses on stress testing, which can be done through exercise or pharmacological means. Exercise stress tests involve walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike to increase heart rate, while pharmacological stress tests use medications to mimic the effects of exercise. Both types of tests assess heart function and may be combined with imaging procedures.<br /><br />The following section explores echocardiograms, which use ultrasound to visualize the heart's valves and chambers. Regular echocardiograms provide images at rest, while stress echocardiograms capture images before and after a stress test. There is also mention of a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), which involves inserting a probe through the esophagus to obtain images internally.<br /><br />Non-invasive vascular testing, including carotid ultrasounds, abdominal vascular ultrasounds, venous Doppler ultrasounds, and arterial Doppler ultrasounds, is covered in the next section. These tests assess blood flow and check for blockages or clotting in various areas of the body.<br /><br />The video then describes nuclear cardiology procedures, such as SPECT and PET scans, which use radioactive isotopes to obtain images of the heart and blood flow. Specific nuclear cardiology tests mentioned include myocardial perfusion SPECT studies, amyloid imaging, cardiac viability PET studies, and sarcoid PET studies.<br /><br />Next, computed tomography (CT) procedures, including cardiac CT, calcium scoring CT, and peripheral angiography CT, are discussed. These CT scans provide detailed images of the heart, coronary arteries, and blood vessels in the arms and legs.<br /><br />MRI procedures, such as cardiac MRI, are briefly touched upon. These procedures use radio waves and magnets to create images of the heart's chambers, valves, and muscles.<br /><br />The video then covers catheterization procedures, which involve inserting a catheter into a blood vessel to evaluate the heart and diagnose heart disease or blockages. Cardiac catheterization may be followed by angioplasty and stent placement to open and prop open narrowed arteries.<br /><br />Lastly, lab assessments are discussed, including cholesterol/lipid panels, BNP tests, troponin tests, chemistry panels, complete blood counts, and coagulation tests (PT/INR and PTT).<br /><br />No specific credits are given.
Keywords
cardiovascular medicine diagnostics
EKG
Holter monitoring
stress testing
echocardiograms
non-invasive vascular testing
nuclear cardiology procedures