The Process of Cardiovascular Examination

**** Echocardiography (Cardiac Ultrasound) ****

non-invasive technique that evaluates cardiac anatomy and function with images and recordings produced by sound energy

- Ischemic Heart Disease (Angina or myocardial infarction)

detecting of regional wall motion abnormalities and diagnosing early stage of disease.

evaluating of myocardial performance.

identifying & sizing acute myocardial infarction and assessing the complication of acute myocardial infarction

- Valvular Heart Disease (VHD)

diagnose valvular stenosis or insufficiency and qualifying severity of disease and lead to proper management(surgical or medical treatment)

- Hypertension

detect loaded state of myocardium (concentric or eccentric hyperetrophy) and evaluate cardiac performance and lead to proper treatment.

- Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)

diagnose and evaluate of severity of CHD such as ASD(atrial septal defect), VSD(ventricular septal defect), PDA(patent ductus arteriosus) and complex heart diseases and lead to surgical management if indicated.

- Cardiomyopathy

diagnose of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy or restrictive cardiomyopathy and lead to proper treatment.

- Pericardial disease

detect pericarditis or pericardial effusion

- Disease of aorta

detrect life-threatening aortic dissection and lead to early surgical treatment.

- Pulmonary thromboembolism

can detect pulmonary thromboembolism and lead to proper treatment.

*** Carotid Sonography ***

The carotid sonography is a painless & harmless test using high-frequency sound wave to determine whether there is narrowing or plaque formation in carotid arteries. Further, it can measure intima-media thickness(IMT) of carotid arteries and can evaluate arterial status correctly. In cases of severe carotid stenosis after testing, surgical treatment or carotid stent will be practiced.

*** 24 Hours ambulatory ECG test (Holter monitoring) ***

mandatory examination that is used to diagnose paroxysmal arrhythmia or syncope due to sinus node dysfunction or atrioventricular block and lead to catheter ablation or pacemaker insertion.

*** Exercise ECG test (Treadmill test) ***

The most angina patients show normal ECG and echocardiographic findings.

Therefore, we can induce ischemic state with stress test (exercise or pharmacologically) and diagnose of angina pectoris and estimate severity of disease.

*** 24 hour Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) ***

measure day and night blood pressure correctly and detect white coat hypertension and masked hypertension and give precise guideline for blood pressure control.

*** Head-Up Tilt Test ***

useful test for diagnosing the vasovagal syncope that is the most common cause of faintness or dizziness and performed on tilting table with provocating drug injection.

*** Arteriosclerosis testing ***

by measuring Pulse Wave Velocity(PWV) and Ankle Brachial index(ABI),

we can estimate arterial stiffness and detect subclinical atherosclerosis.