Non Invasive Cardiology
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- / Dr. Ravi Gupta
Non Invasive Cardiology
Diagnostic Techniques
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
Purpose: To record the electrical activity of the heart and identify arrhythmias, ischemia, myocardial infarction, and other cardiac conditions.
Procedure: Electrodes are placed on the chest, arms, and legs to capture the heart's electrical signals.
Indications: Chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, syncope.
Echocardiography
Purpose: To visualize the heart's structure and function using ultrasound waves.
Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE): Non-invasive, performed externally on the chest.
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE): More detailed images, involves passing a probe down the esophagus.
Stress Echocardiography: Combines ultrasound imaging with exercise or pharmacologic stress.
Indications: Valve disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart defects.
Stress Testing
Purpose: To evaluate the heart's response to physical exertion or pharmacologic agents.
Exercise Stress Test: Patient exercises on a treadmill or stationary bike while heart activity is monitored.
Pharmacologic Stress Test: For patients unable to exercise, medications like dobutamine are used to simulate exercise.
Indications: Suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), assessment of exercise tolerance, evaluation of treatment efficacy.
Holter Monitoring
Purpose: Continuous 24-48 hour ECG monitoring to detect intermittent arrhythmias or ischemic episodes.
Procedure: A portable ECG device is worn by the patient, recording heart rhythms over an extended period.
Indications: Unexplained syncope, palpitations, episodic dizziness, assessing arrhythmia treatment.
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)
Purpose: To monitor blood pressure continuously over 24 hours to assess for hypertension.
Procedure: A cuff is worn on the arm, and blood pressure is measured at regular intervals.
Indications: Suspected white-coat hypertension, resistant hypertension, evaluation of treatment.
Cardiac MRI
Purpose: To obtain detailed images of the heart's structure, function, and blood flow.
Procedure: Utilizes magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the heart.
Indications: Cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, congenital heart disease, myocardial inflammation.
Coronary CT Angiography (CTA)
Purpose: To visualize coronary arteries and detect blockages or abnormalities.
Procedure: A contrast dye is injected, and a CT scanner captures images of the coronary arteries.
Indications: Evaluation of chest pain, suspected coronary artery disease, assessment before surgery.
Non-invasive cardiology plays a vital role in the early detection, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular diseases. By using these non-invasive techniques, cardiologists can effectively monitor heart conditions, guide treatment decisions, and improve patient outcomes without the need for more invasive procedures.