Common Tests

Below are definitions of some common cardiac tests your heart specialist at BVHS may order for you:

Echocardiograms — a sound wave of the heart and all the chambers. An echocardiogram looks at the pumping function and the valves of the heart. Echocardiograms can be performed either as an inpatient or outpatient procedure.

If you are having an echocardiogram at Blanchard Valley Health System, here is some information to help you prepare:

• Dobutamine Stress Echo
• Stress Echo

Stress tests — an EKG cardiac stress test is performed while a patient walks on a treadmill. A Cardiolite stress test is performed when the patient is injected with an isotope, scanned by a nuclear camera and walks on a treadmill. Specialists also do Persantine Cardiolite testing, where a drug replaces walking on a treadmill. These can be done either as an inpatient or outpatient test.

If you are having a stress test at Blanchard Valley Health System, here is some information to help you prepare:

• Cardiolite Treadmill Stress Test
• Lexiscan Cardiolite Stress Test
• Treadmill EKG Stress Test

Holter monitoring — recording of a patient’s heart rhythm. In this test, you wear monitors for 24 hours and also keep a diary to allow for the correlation between abnormalities in heart rhythm and activities. This can be done either as an inpatient or outpatient procedure.

EKG — a tracing of the electrical portion of the heart. EKGs can be performed as inpatient or outpatient procedures.

Electrophysiology Studies — During an electrophysiology study, special electrode catheters (long, flexible wires) are inserted into your veins and guided into the heart. Once inside, the catheters can sense electrical impulses in various areas of the heart. The study allows doctors to locate abnormal sites inside the heart that may be causing serious arrhythmias.

Tilt Table — In patients who have had syncope (fainting spells), the tilt table test can help determine how the body responds to changes in body position. In this test, you lie on a table that can be moved to a nearly upright position while your blood pressure and ECG are continuously monitored.

Cardioversion — a procedure that uses an electrical shock to stop an arrhythmia and restore normal heart rhythms. It is used in the treatment of certain rapid heart rhythms.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) — an echocardiogram that is performed from inside the esophagus, the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach. This test provides high-quality images of heart structures.

Please call the Jane & Gary Heminger HeartCare Center at 419.423.5110 if you have questions about a procedure for which you are scheduled.