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Cardiopulmonary-EEG Services

Respiratory care practitioners and technicians at Deaconess provide treatment, management, control and care of both inpatients and outpatients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the lungs, heart and brain. Pulmonary education is provided through the Better Breathers Club  and inpatient teaching regarding medications, behavior modification, exercise and nutrition.

Other services include:

  • Pulmonary function studies examine the lungs and how efficiently the mechanisms of respiration (breathing) occur. The results of this test are used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with airway abnormalities and/or lung disease.
A pulmonary function study is a non-invasive procedure, and its results are very dependent on patient effort and cooperation. During the test, you will be connected to the pulmonary function machine via a mouthpiece. As you perform a series of rapid breathing, blowing and breath-holding techniques, the machine takes the measurements and makes calculations based on your abilities as compared to a set of established normal values for an individual of your sex, height and age.

The technician performing your test will instruct you on what is required for each particular trial. Some of these trials are quite rigorous, however, you will be allowed all the time that you need to rest between attempts.

Depending on the results of your first set of trials, you may be given a breathing medication before repeating the test. The entire test may take approximately two hours.

The results are interpreted by a pulmonologist, a physician trained in lung health and able to read pulmonary function tests. The report is then sent to your physician who uses it along with your medical history and other tests to make a diagnosis and determine the treatment you need.

Your physician may order a pulmonary function test before or after surgery, or if you have a history of smoking, are undergoing COPD management, or if you are experiencing difficulty breathing or experience sputum production.
  • Sleep studies
  • Electrocardiograms (EKG) – trace the electrical impulses produced by a heart, helping in the diagnosis of heart rhythm irregularities, heart damage and other heart problems. The procedure is a valuable tool used by physicians to help in the diagnosis of heart rhythm irregularities, past and/or possible heart damage and other heart problems.
There is no preparation necessary for an EKG. The technician will ask you to remove your clothing from the waist up and put on a patient gown. Ten electrodes will be placed in a particular configuration on your chest, arms and legs. The electrodes are covered with a gel-like substance that forms a contact with the skin and allows for the conduction of electrical impulses. The gel will feel cold and wet on your skin.

Wires from the EKG machine will be attached to the electrodes. Information such as your height and weight will be entered into the machine by the EKG technician. The machine will then take a reading of your heart rhythms and print out the results.

Most EKG’s take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The results of your EKG are always interpreted by a cardiologist, a physician trained in heart health and able to read electrocardiograms. The results are then sent to your physician who uses them along with your medical history and other test results to make a diagnosis and determine the treatment you need.

Your physician may order an EKG prior to or following surgery or if you are experiencing:

  • chest pain
  • difficulty breathing
  • palpitation/arrhythmia
  • dizziness/syncope
  • swelling in feet and legs
  • history of heart disease
  • routine yearly medical exam
  • Electroencephalograms
  • Holter monitoring -- There is no preparation necessary for a holter monitor test. The technician will have you remove your clothing from the waist up. They will place five electrodes and wires on your chest. A mesh T-shirt holds the electrodes in place. The holter monitor box is attached and can be worn around the neck or waist. These monitors are usually worn for 24 to 48 hours. You will not be able to shower while wearing the monitor, because you cannot get the monitor or electrodes wet. Your physician may order a holter monitor if you are having palpitations, chest pain, unexplained fainting, black outs, difficulty breathing or dizziness/syncope. While you are wearing the monitor, you will keep a diary of your activities.
  • Bronchoscopy – A bronchoscopy is a diagnostic procedure in which a scope designed to pass through the trachea will allow inspection of the airway. The scope is also designed to permit the passage of an instrument that can be used to obtain tissue for biopsy or to remove a foreign body from the lungs. In preparation, you will not be able to eat or drink for at least 12 hours prior to the procedure. Just before the bronchoscopy you will be given a medicine to numb your throat. It will be given via a breathing treatment or a spray to the back of your throat. You will also be given a medicine in an IV that will make you very drowsy and help you forget the procedure. You will not be allowed to drink for about one hour after the procedure due to the numbing of your airway. You will need someone to drive you home. That evening you may run a low-grade fever and may cough up a small amount of blood. Some reasons your physician may order a bronchoscopy include:
    • Coughing up blood
    • Persistant cough
    • Chest Xray opacifacation or density
    • Difficulty breathing
  • Echocardiograms – An Echocardiogram is a study of the heart and blood flow using Doppler technology. It is often called an "Echo" or an "Echo with doppler." Doppler is the part of the test which helps determine the speed, direction, turbulence or amount of blood flow in a particular area at a given time.

The "echo" is a non-invasive procedure (no dyes, needles, etc.). Echo uses the technology of ultrasound, which passes silent, high-frequency sound waves through the body and then receives return sound waves (or echos). These echos produce an image on a screen through electrical energy. Radiation is not used.

A doppler transducer (the part of the machine which has contact with the skin) is what sends these sound waves through the body and then picks them up to form the images. A gel is applied to the skin to facilitate better sound transmission.

There is no preparation before an echo. You may eat, drink and take your medications as usual.

You will probably be asked to put on a hospital gown. Then you will be asked to lie down in a comfortable position, usually on your left side. Gel will be applied to the transducer. It will be moved in various positions on your chest to get the best images of your heart. The test usually lasts about 30 minutes.

The images are recorded on videotape and a cardiologist, a physician trained as a heart specialist, will review the tape and interpret the exam. The results will be sent to your physician, usually within one to two days. Your physician will then discuss the results with you.

REASONS WHY YOUR PHYSICIAN MIGHT ORDER AN ECHO…

Your physician may order an Echo for you if you are experiencing…

  • Chest pain
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Palpitation/arrythmia
  • Heart murmur
  • Changes in a known heart murmur
  • Enlarged heart
  • Swellings in feet and legs
  • Dizziness/syncope
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Heart attack
  • Heart valve disease
  • History of rheumatic fever
  • Fever of an unknown origin
  • Pericardial disease (fluid around the heart)
  • Following surgery

 

 

 
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