An EKG is an electrical recording of your heart.  The machine does not send electricity into the body; rather, it receives tiny electrical impulses from the heart's beating and records them onto a strip of paper.   An EKG is used to check for damage to the heart and for any heartbeat irregularities.

A chest x-ray provides a radiographic image of your heart.  Although the amount of radiation is very small,  the chest x-ray provides the physician with information about your lungs and the size of your heart.  It also provides a picture of the device and is used to detect device position as well as the possibility of device fractures.

Fluoroscopy is similar to a chest x-ray,  but is performed in the catheterization lab and utilizes special equipment which allows for three-dimensional pictures.  Fluoroscopy is routinely used during many procedures in the catheterization lab to observe the action of instruments.   The fluoroscopic image shows the device in far greater detail than a chest x-ray,  and is used for the detection of device fractures.

An echocardiagram provides a picture of the blood flow as it moves through your heart and provides an inside look at the structure of your heart.  The test is performed by moving a hand-held wand over your chest.  This wand uses high-frequency sound waves to provide the heart images.  An echocardiagram provides information on device position as well as device performance (whether or not the device is completely closing the hole).

This test is performed by placing a plastic clip over your finger.  The oxygen content of the blood is measured and is expressed as a degree of saturation, e.g.,  98%. In some instances,  the oxygen saturation may be an indication of how the device is performing in your heart.