Cardiovascular Services

Our cardiovascular services include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Ambulatory monitoring: Holter Monitor
• Exercise Tolerance Testing: Treadmill/Stress Echocardiogram/Dobutamine Echocardiogram

Location

Our cardiovascular services are available at the Charles Street main site.

Make sure to register at the registration desk when you arrive and report to the cardiovascular services desk. Please arrive 15 to 30 minutes prior to your appointment.

Electrocardiogram

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) measures the electrical activity of your heart and helps show any abnormalities in how the heart controls its rhythm. It can also reveal the location of any heart muscle damage. This test usually takes only 10 minutes. No diet requirements are necessary; however, it is recommended that you not smoke prior to testing. We will ask you to remove any jewelry and cover with a hospital sheet.

This is a non-invasive test and involves applying 10 to 13 electrodes to various parts of your body while you are lying down. We record your results and store them in our electronic database to be read by a physician.

Ambulatory Monitoring

Holter Monitoring

For Holter monitoring you will wear a small recording device connected to seven electrodes placed across the chest, allowing for three channels to be monitored over a 24, 48 or 72 hour period. This is a constant recording of your heart’s rhythm and will be viewed on a specialized computer to be analyzed by a registered cardiology technologist and reviewed by a physician. You will have a baseline ECG done prior to having the monitoring electrodes applied. We will give you instructions and a diary to track your normal activities and any symptoms you may have while wearing the monitor. This appointment may take approximately 30 minutes.

Please bring your medications with you. For hook up appointments after 4:00 p.m., please report to the switchboard and wait in the cardiovascular services’ waiting area.

Exercise tolerance testing (stress testing)

Appointments are necessary for all exercise tolerance testing and are usually arranged through referral to the offices of our internal medicine physicians. Please follow any instructions given and bring medications with you to the appointment.

Treadmill test (or stress test)

The treadmill test measures your heart’s electrical activity, blood pressure and heart rate while you exercise by walking in a controlled situation while being monitored by a registered cardiology technologist. A cardiologist or internal medicine physician is also present or close by during the test. You will have electrodes applied to your chest, with wires and a belt, while being connected to a specialized computer. The speed and angle of the treadmill are gradually increased based on each individual. This appointment takes approximately 30 minutes.

Stress echocardiogram

An echocardiogram is performed by a registered sonographer. The echocardiogram uses sound waves called ultrasound to look at the size, shape, texture and motion of the heart valves and chambers at rest and peak exercise. A gel will be used on the chest with a transducer that emits the sound waves. This test causes no pain and takes approximately 45 minutes.

Dobutamine echocardiogram

A dobutamine echocardiogram is a chemical injection that increases heart rate in a controlled situation. This is done in the presence of a qualified registered nurse. During this testing period you will be lying down and an echocardiogram is performed at different intervals throughout the test. You will be closely monitored during this one hour appointment.