The Surrey Cardivascular Clinic

An Electrocardiogram or ECG is a non-invasive test used to assess the electrical signal released by the pumping heart muscle. Small electrodes are placed on the chest and record the electrical activity of the heart, which is displaed on a monitor or printed out. This display indicates the overall rhythm of the heart and weaknesses in different parts of the heart muscle. It is useful in diagnosing common heart conditions and is an essential part of a cardiac assessment.

An exercise test or stress test is a diagnostic examination performed whilst walking. The heart is monitored via non-invasive electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes stuck to the skin, whilst blood pressure is monitored with a cuff around the arm. Patients walk on a treadmill under the supervision of a trained SCVC healthcare technician.

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound examination of the heart. It is sometimes referred to as a cardiac ECHO or just an ECHO. Echocardiograms provide images of the heart as well as information on how well blood is circulating. Echocardiograms are performed by trained healthcare technicians and are completely non-invasive.

During an ECHO, the patient is undressed so that the chest wall is free from any clothing that might interfere with the ultrasound beam. Some ultrasound gel is then applied to a small handheld probe, to improve contact between the probe and the patient.

A painless beam of ultrasound energy is passed from a small transducer operated by a radiographer, cardiologist or cardiac technician. The beam deflects from the structures of the heart and the reflection of the wave is detected by a receiver contained within the transducer. This ultrasound reflection is similar to radar, and is transferred into a sophisticated computer which then illustrates the structures of the heart in ‘real time’ on a computer monitor, allowing the ultra-stenographer to see the heart and how well it functions.

A cardiac perfusion test or scan measures the amount of blood in your heart at rest and during exercise. It is often undertaken to find out what may be causing chest pain. The heart is scanned after a special tracer medicine is injected into a vein in the arm and travels to the heart through the blood. Areas of the heart with good blood flow absorb the tracer whilst areas that do not absorb the tracer may not be getting enough blood or may have been damaged.

Cardiac computed tomography or cardiac CT is a painless test that uses an x-ray machine to take clear, detailed pictures of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart. It is a common test for showing problems of the heart. During a cardiac CT angiogram, much like a perfusion test, a special tracer or dye is injected into the patient’s arm and travels to the heart. This makes it easier to examine the heart chambers and vessels when x-rayed.

An ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors your heart when you are doing your normal activities. It helps to detect abnormal heart rates and rhythms. There are several different types of ECG device, all lightweight and portable for patients to wear or carry around. An ambulatory ECG can last for 24 hours up to several weeks depending on the frequency of symptoms.