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Cardiology Outpatient Tests |
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Tests offered as part of a comprehensive evaluation at our cardiology outpatient clinics are non-invasive, which means there will be no incision made or any penetration of the body, and typically do not cause pain.
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Electrocardiograms use electrical activity of the heart to identify an increase in the size of heart chambers, as well as the pathway of conduction of electrical forces from the top to the bottom of the heart. The results can provide important clues to cardiologists about the need for further testing to assess the possibility of either structural or electrical abnormalities.
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The test is performed by a trained technician. It takes 10 minutes to complete and requires the placement of sticky patches on the chest that are connected to the recording machine. Occasionally, removal of the patches can be uncomfortable so patients can remove them later at home after a bath or shower if they choose.
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Holter monitors are devices that record a person's heart rhythm for a continuous 24-hour period. They determine the heart rate and rhythm of that person during normal activities.
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They require the use of two leads similar to those used for electrocardiograms. The monitoring equipment can be worn on a belt under clothing, or for younger children can be set next to the infant or toddler during the monitoring period. Once completed, the monitor can be removed by the parent and returned by mail to the laboratory for interpretation. The final results are available to the cardiologist who ordered the test, within one to two weeks.
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Instead of monitoring the heart during normal activity, event monitors determine a person's heart rhythm during a particular event -- a specific change in heart rhythm when it is noticed by the patient.
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There are two types of event monitors. A hand-held monitor, typically used by older patients who may have intermittent symptoms that last for some length of time, is not directly attached to the body but can be carried in a pocket or purse for use when a patient feels a change in their heart rhythm.
A loop monitor, used by younger patients or when symptoms are brief, uses two leads attached to the monitoring equipment. When a patient feels a change in heart rhythm, a button is pushed storing the previous 30 seconds of heart rhythm, recording an additional 30 seconds of heart tracing. The advantages of a loop monitor are that it can identify brief rhythm abnormalities and can be kept by the patient for a month or longer increasing the chances of finding an infrequent rhythm.
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Echocardiograms (echo) are performed to assess the heart's structures and function. An echo takes a moving picture of a person's heart by using high frequency sound waves (ultrasound), and shows the direction of the blood flow through the heart.
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A small probe called a transducer is placed on your child's chest and sends out ultrasonic sound waves at a frequency too high to be heard. When the transducer is placed on your child's chest in certain locations and at certain angles, the ultrasonic sound waves move through the skin and other body tissues to the heart tissues, where the waves bounce (or "echo") off of the heart structures. The transducer picks up the reflected waves and sends them to a computer. The computer interprets the echoes into an image of the heart walls and valves.
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An exercise/stress test is performed to assess the heart's response to stress or exercise. A physician may recommend the test for several reasons: to diagnose conditions such as coronary artery disease or symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath or lightheadedness; to gauge exercise capacity in heart patients; or to predict potential risk of heart-related conditions.
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It is done using an EKG machine, which is monitored while your child is exercising on a treadmill or stationary bike. Electrodes -- small plastic patches -- are placed on a patient's chest, arms and legs, and are connected to an EKG machine by lead wires, the electrical activity of your child's heart is measured.
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