Patient care and facilities

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (E C G):- An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart. An ECG shows the heart’s electrical activity as line tracings on paper. The spikes and dips in the tracings are called waves.

ECG is used to measure the rate and regularity of heartbeats as well as the size and position of the chambers, the presence of any damage to the heart, and the effects of drugs or devices used to regulate the heart (e.g. Pacemaker). An ECG is very useful in determining whether a person has heart disease. If a person has chest pain or palpitations, an ECG is helpful in determining if the heart is beating normally.

CARDIAC STRESS TEST (CST):- An exercise Treadmill or Cardiac Stress Test is designed to assess how you heart, lungs and blood vessels respond to increasing workload (exercise). You will be asked to walk on a treadmill and a continuous ECG (heart rhythm tracing) recording is done. This will enable your doctor to understand if there is any problem with blood supply to your heart muscle or is there any abnormal electrical activity when your heart is under stress.

2D ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY:- An echocardiogram, often referred to as a cardiac echo or simply an echo, is a sonogram of the heart. Echocardiography uses standard two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and Doppler ultrasound to create images of the heart.

Echocardiography has become routinely used in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients with any suspected or known heart diseases. It is one of the most widely used diagnostic tests in cardiology. It can provide helpful information of the size and shape of the heart (internal chamber size quantification), pumping capacity, and the location and extent of any tissue damage. An echocardiogram can also give physicians other estimates of heart function, such as a calculation of the cardiac output, ejection fraction, and diastolic function (how well the heart relaxes).

ARTERIAL STIFFNESS STUDY:- It is a test to determine the Peripheral Artery Disease which is a common circulatory problem in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to patients limbs. This results in arterial stiffness which is also associated with the increased cardiovascular risk including hypertension, diabetes mellitus or kidney failure. The Periscope test diagnosis include Ankle/Toe Brachial Index, Vascular Age, Pulse Wave Velocity. Heart rate and blood pressure measurements are useful in evaluating cardiovascular health but they do not give complete picture of health whereas Pulse Wave Velocity is an accurate stand-alone measurement of heart health.

HOLTER MONITORING:- A Holter Monitor records the electrical activity of the heart continuously over a period of 48 hours.

This test enables us to identify any electrical changes or rhythm abnormalities of your heart during your normal daily activities.

AMBULATORY B.P. Monitoring:- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a non-invasive method of obtaining blood pressure readings over a 24-hour period, whilst the patient is in their own environment, representing a true reflection of their blood pressure. Blood pressure is measured over a 24-hour period, using auscultatory or oscillometry devices, and requires use of a cuff. The monitor takes blood pressures every 20 minutes.

PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST:- Pulmonary Function testing measures the function of lung capacity and lung and chest wall mechanics to determine whether or not the patient has a lung problem. Pulmonary Function Tests are commonly referred to as “PFTs”. When a patient is referred for PFT’s, it means that a battery of tests may be carried-out including: simple screening spirometry, static lung volume measurement, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, airways resistance, respiratory muscle strength and arterial blood gases.

DOBUTAMINE STRESS ECHO:- A dobutamine stress echocardiogram (DSE) may be used if you are unable to exercise. Dobutamine is put in a vein and causes the heart to beat faster. It mimics the effects of exercise on the heart.

During an echo, a transducer (like a microphone) sends out ultrasonic sound waves at a frequency too high to be heard. When the transducer is placed on the chest at certain locations and angles, the ultrasonic sound waves move through the skin and other body tissues to the heart tissues, where the waves bounce or “echo” off of the heart structures. The transducer picks up the reflected waves and sends them to a computer. The computer displays the echoes as images of the heart walls and valves.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE):- A transesophageal echo (TEE) test is a special type of echo test in which the ultrasound transducer, positioned on an endoscope, is guided down the patient’s throat into the esophagus (the “food pipe” leading from the mouth into the stomach). An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible instrument that is about ½ inch in diameter.

The Transducer does an ultrasound imaging scan of the heart, using high frequency sound waves to see all four chambers of the heart, the heart valves and the sac around the heart. It gives a close look of the heart to see if it could be producing blood clots. The esophagus is close to the heart, so images from a TEE can give very clear pictures of the heart and its structures.

IN–HOUSE PATHOLOGY FACILITY:- We have a In-House Pathology Facility for conducting the blood, urine sample testing of our patients. We maintain high quality standards in our Pathology to reduce the risk of infection. We do all the blood tests and reports are immediately given to patients. Our unique services are :-

• TROP T / I – Cardiac Marker Studies
• PT – INR
• HbA1c

SONOGRAPHY:- We do all kinds of Sonography at our clinic with prior appointment. Following sonography tests are done at the clinic.

• Renal Doppler Study
• Carotid Doppler Study
• Peripheral Doppler Study
• Sonography of Full Abdomen, KUB, Venous,
• Peripheral Venous & Artery

NEUROLOGY:- In Neurology OPD, consultation is given to patients suffering from all neurological disorders such as Stroke, Epilepsy, Parkinsons, GBS, Migrain, Alzheimer, Vertigo, Seizures, etc. Specific tests are conducted on the patients to analyze the extent of muscle weakness or neuromuscular abnormalities. These tests are :-

Electromyogram (EMG) / Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV):- An Electromyogram (EMG) measures the electrical activity of muscles when they’re at rest and when they’re being used. Nerve conduction studies measure how well and how fast the nerves can send electrical signals.

An EMG is done to:

• Find problems that damage muscle tissue, nerves, or the spots where nerves and muscles join. These problems may include a herniated disc, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or myasthenia gravis (MG).
• Find the cause of weakness, paralysis, or muscle twitching. The EMG does not show brain or spinal cord diseases.

A Nerve Conduction Study is done to:

Find damage to the peripheral nervous system. This includes all the nerves that lead away from the brain and spinal cord. It also includes the smaller nerves that branch out from those nerves. This test is often used to help find nerve problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome or Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Electroencephalogram (EEG):- An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test used to find problems related to electrical activity of the brain. An EEG tracks and records brain wave patterns. Small metal discs with thin wires (electrodes) are placed on the scalp, and then send signals to a computer to record the results.
Other Neurology Facilities:-

• David
• Cefaly