Echocardiography Laboratory
The Echocardiography Laboratory (Echo Lab) at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System uses ultrasound procedures to aid in the evaluation of cardiac conditions, such as valvular heart disease, coronary heart disease, and other heart conditions. The newly remodeled Echo lab consists of three rooms, equipped with the latest ultrasound imaging technology, to perform the following procedures:
*Transthoracic Echocardiogram
*Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
*Stress Echocardiogram
*Research Echocardiogram
A transthoracic echocardiogram is the standard way of performing the test. An ultrasound probe is placed on the chest, and the heart is scanned from various angles, which produces pictures of the heart’s walls, valves and chambers.
A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is a minimally invasive alternative for assessing cardiac conditions that cannot be visualized optimally with conventional transthoracic echo. TEE has proven useful, for example, in assessing prosthetic heart valves and detecting holes between the chambers of the heart, and other conditions that are difficult to diagnose with a transthoracic echocardiogram.
A stress echocardiogram is done under conditions that increase the hearts workload and is usually done to check if there are any blockages. First, images are taken at rest. Patients are either walked on a treadmill until they reach their peak exercise levels or for patients who are unable to exercise,
a medication is given into a vein that causes a similar effect on the heart. After patients reach their peak exercise level, images are obtained and the physician compares the resting heart images with the images taken while the heart is working hard.
A research echocardiogram is performed under a specific protocol. Presently,the echo lab is participating in multiple research studies.
The echo lab staff are highly skilled and are board certified in this field. The echo lab utilizes a digital image storage and retrieval system. When patients come to the echo lab, their testing is provided by caring staff members who have the best interest and comfort of patients in mind at all times. |
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Holter Monitoring
Holter monitoring is a non-invasive way to record the patient’s heart rhythm continually for 24 hours. This allows the practitioner to examine the patient’s rhythm during ambulatory activity and with associated physical and psychological changes.
It is usually ordered when patients have symptoms of syncope or passing out, near-syncope or nearly passing out, dizziness, or recurrent palpitations. By performing a 24 hour monitor of the patient’s rhythm, it can be determined if a rhythm disturbance is causing the patient’s symptoms.
Holter monitoring can also be used to evaluate pacemaker function.
A holter monitor is a small, lightweight battery operated electromagnetic tape recorder that continuously records all ECG data for 24 hours.
The recorder has patient-activated event markers and encoded time markers which is attached to the patient with electrodes. Once the data is recorded, the information is digitalized and then analyzed by a technician.
The information is evaluated for the basic rhythm, minimum and maximum heart rates, any changes in heart rhythm, and any changes that would indicate ischemia (the heart not receiving enough blood).
The patient is asked to keep a diary for the time the monitor is one. This information is correlated with symptoms that the patient records. All of this information is printed and given to the cardiologist for review. Once completed, the report is filed in the patients’ medical record.
In January, 2006, The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System purchased a new state of the art holter monitoring system. Holter monitors are applied in the ECG department, Monday through Friday and are usually returned to the department the next day. The patient can mail the holter back to the facility if travel is problematic.
The information is acquired by the computer, analyzed, edited and review by the technician and then stored in the patients electronic medical record.
For more information on Holter monitoring and cardiac arrhythmias visit:
The American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org
The National Library of Medicine and The National Institutes of Health at www.nlm.nih.gov
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