Cardiopulmonary Department
The Cardiopulmonary Department focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of heart and lung conditions.One example of a heart conditoin is a myocardial infarctions, more commonly known as heart attacks, are typically caused by a blood clot in the coronary artery which can restrict blood flow, this in turn can cause the heart’s pumping function to decrease ( Heart Attack. 2017). An example of a cardiovascular condition is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or a stroke, is caused by lack of bloodflow to the brain, often caused by a blood clot or a hemorrhaging. Another branch to this is atherosclerosis, a condition where there is plaque build up in the arteries. Atherosclerosis can cause a decrease in blood flow to the heart and other vital
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There are two types of stress tests, there is a standard stress test and there is a nuclear stress test. A stress test is used to measure if the heart is getting enough blood supply, or to screen for other heart conditions such as coronary artery disease. (Riley-Clark. 2015). I saw a stress test performed during rotation. The patient had to walk for six minutes on a treadmill at a small incline while having a electrodes to an EKG hooked to their chest. They were monitored for symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain throughout the test (Riley-Clark. 2015). On the other hand, there are also nuclear stress test. A nuclear stress test is designed to measure blood flow to the heart. During a nuclear stress test, the patient is injected with a small amount of a radioactive substance which is then tracked with a device and is used to create an image of the heart. If there is an area of the heart that isn’t receiving enough blood flow, that portion of the heart will be indicated by a light spot on the image ( Riley-Clark. 2015). To me, the most interesting test is an echocardiogram. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart, which can help determine if there is fluid in the pericardium, abnormalities with the structure of the heart, if a heart valve is leaking or narrowed, and how well the heart is pumping blood (Riley-Clark. 2015). When I was shadowing an ER physician in CVPH, I was able to see an echocardiogram of a middle aged male with chest pain. To be able to see the four chambers of the heart, the opening and closing of the valves, the way the heart pumps, in black and white, is absolutely
There are two types of stress tests, there is a standard stress test and there is a nuclear stress test. A stress test is used to measure if the heart is getting enough blood supply, or to screen for other heart conditions such as coronary artery disease. (Riley-Clark. 2015). I saw a stress test performed during rotation. The patient had to walk for six minutes on a treadmill at a small incline while having a electrodes to an EKG hooked to their chest. They were monitored for symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain throughout the test (Riley-Clark. 2015). On the other hand, there are also nuclear stress test. A nuclear stress test is designed to measure blood flow to the heart. During a nuclear stress test, the patient is injected with a small amount of a radioactive substance which is then tracked with a device and is used to create an image of the heart. If there is an area of the heart that isn’t receiving enough blood flow, that portion of the heart will be indicated by a light spot on the image ( Riley-Clark. 2015). To me, the most interesting test is an echocardiogram. An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart, which can help determine if there is fluid in the pericardium, abnormalities with the structure of the heart, if a heart valve is leaking or narrowed, and how well the heart is pumping blood (Riley-Clark. 2015). When I was shadowing an ER physician in CVPH, I was able to see an echocardiogram of a middle aged male with chest pain. To be able to see the four chambers of the heart, the opening and closing of the valves, the way the heart pumps, in black and white, is absolutely