Non-invasive Cardiac diagnostics tests are done in Cardiac Laboratory. These safe and painless tests allow the physician to determine how a patient’s cardiac functions are working. The department staffed with highly qualified Cardiologist, Cardiovascular Technicians.
Diagnostic tests done at KFHU Cardiac Laboratory:
- Cardiac Stress Test: A cardiac stress test measures how the heart performs in response to exercise or stress. The test monitors blood flow and oxygen levels as the heart beats faster and works harder. Stress tests are often performed to help determine the cause of chest pain or shortness-of-breath.
- Echocardiogram: A conventional or Transthoracic Echocardiogram (TTE), can be done in a resting state or during exercise (stress echo), the ultrasound source is outside the body, on top of the chest. A technician obtains views of the heart by moving a small instrument called a transducer to different locations on the chest or abdominal wall. A transducer, which resembles a microphone, sends sound waves into the chest and picks up echoes bouncing off the heart.
- Holter Monitor Applications and Interpretation: One tool doctors use to diagnose arrhythmia (an abnormal heart rhythm) is the Holter monitor. The Holter monitor, worn for one or two days, is a small appliance that can be attached to a belt or a shoulder strap. Several electrodes placed on the chest connect to the monitor. The monitor records heart rhythms.
- Transesophageal Echocardiogram: Echocardiograms use sound waves bounced off the structures of the heart to generate images of the heart in motion.
TEE examinations are useful in helping physicians diagnose and evaluate patients with embolisms (clots), valvular heart disease, bacterial infections, lesions, aortic abnormalities and injuries, and congenital heart disease. TEE is also used to evaluate critically ill patients and potential heart surgery candidates.
