Cardiovascular system presentation

By: Cassandra FoxJune 20, 2010

Electrocardiography EKG

• An EKG is done to measures the heart’s electrical activity.• This can help evaluate the heart’s function and identify any problems that might exist. •The EKG can help determine the rate and regularity of heartbeats such as a murmur.

EKG procedure• When getting an EKG you will be asked to lie down, and a series electrodes are fixed to the skin in a standard pattern on the shoulders, the chest, the wrists, and the ankles. •After the electrodes are in place, your will be asked to hold still and may be asked to hold your breath briefly while the heartbeats are recorded for a short period. You may also be asked to get up and exercise for a while.•The information is interpreted by a machine and drawn as a graph. The cardiologist will then review this graph and diagnose any issues.

Stress Testing• A stress test can be used to evaluate cardiovascular fitness. • They are used to determine the amount of stress that your heart can manage before developing either an abnormal rhythm or evidence of ischemia. The most commonly performed stress test is the exercise stress test using a treadmill.

Treadmill stress test procedure

• A technician will gently clean 10 small areas on your chest and place electrodes on these areas. The electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph monitor (ECG or EKG) that charts your heart's electrical activity during the test.• As long as you have a healthy ECG you will be asked to walk on a treadmill while being monitored to see how far you walk and if you develop chest pain or changes in your ECG that suggest that your heart is not getting enough blood.• When finishing the test you will walk slowly for a couple of minutes to cool down. Ask your doctor about any results obtained from the stress test.

Venography• A venogram is an X-ray test that takes pictures of blood flow through the veins in a certain area of the body.• A special dye is inserted into the veins that is visible under the X-ray.Using the contrast dye allows the physician to better evaluate the size and condition of the veins.

Venography procedures• There are several methods used to examine the veins with venography:

1. ascending venography - identifies the presence and location of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

2. descending venography - assesses the function of the deep vein valves.

3. venography of the upper extremities - assesses blockage, lesions, or thrombosis in the veins of the neck and axillary region.

4. venacavography - evaluates the inferior vena cava, for obstruction and malformation.