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Physicians in two new laboratories at Children's Hospital Boston at Waltham are able to perform both urodynamics and cardiac stress tests.
When undergoing a urodynamics test, patients begin by emptying their bladder using a private toilet wired to a computer in an adjacent room. From there, physicians measure flow rates, obtaining a second-by-second profile of when urine is leaving the bladder. Next, a catheter is inserted and a warm saltwater solution is routed into the bladder. Physicians measure pressures inside the bladder as more solution is introduced and determine which pressures induce the sensation of having to void.
These measurements, in addition to consultations with peers, allow physicians to form a more complete picture of the underlying causes of any dysfunction. In cases of spina
bifida or spinal cord trauma, neurologists at the Longwood campus may provide
remote consultations.
Down the hall from urodynamics is Waltham's new cardiac stress testing lab. Here, a treadmill and stationary bike offer two ways for physicians to administer a 30-to-35 minute exercise test, consisting of a 10-minute baseline assessment, a 10-to-15 minute exercise assessment and a 10-minute recovery assessment. EKG monitoring, in conjunction with metabolic measurements, blood pressure measurements, pulse oximetry and
spirometry, provide a report on the cooperation of heart and lungs during exercise.
Along with an identically outfitted lab in Boston, the stress testing lab in Waltham represents one of the few places regionally where children can get this kind of test.
To schedule an appointment with urodynamics, call 617-355-7796; for cardiac stress
test testing, call 617-355-2079.
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