Maria Grimaldos Rueda

METODOS
DIAGNOSTICOS

PHYSICAL EXAM

The patient's body is studied to determine the presence or absence of a

physical problem. INCLUDES: Inspection: (observe the body). Palpation: (feel
the body with the hands) Auscultation: (listen to the heart or lung sounds
through the stethoscope) Percussion: (characteristic of the pathology or
diseases. Includes the taking of arterial pulse and the taking of blood pressure
arterial.

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

Placement of patches called electrodes in different areas (arm,

legs, chest), which are connected by means of cables to a
machine (electrocardiograph) which converts the electrical
signals from the heart into wavy lines, which are printed on
paper.

THORAX RADIOGRAPHY

It is a necessary technique to evaluate patients with pathologies

such as: cardiomegaly, pleural effusion, ventricular hypertrophy.
Cardiovascular radiology allows the assessment of cardiac size,
recognition of morphology, review of pulmonary
vascularization.

ECHOCARDIOGRAM

It is a test that uses sound waves to create a moving

image of the heart.

EFFORT TEST

It is a screening tool to evaluate the effect of exercise on the heart, it

provides an overview of the health of the heart. After the placement of
electrodes in different areas, they are connected by means of cables to
an exercise bike or a synthetic band where the patient pedals or walks
on the exercise machine while measuring the electrical activity of the
heart with an electrocardiogram.
 Maria Grimaldos Rueda

METODOS
DIAGNOSTICOS

HOLTER TEST

It is a test that consists of ambulatory monitoring of the

electrocardiographic record for a long time, usually 24 hours, in a person
who is on the move. This test allows us to detect irregularities of the
heart by studying arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia.

AXIAL TOMOGRAPH

It is an imaging method that uses x-rays to

create detailed images of the heart and blood
vessels. .

CARDIAC SCAN

It is a cardiovascular imaging technique that is divided into two phases:

rest and post-effort. Through this technique, the regions or walls of the
heart muscle (myocardium) that do not receive enough blood
(myocardial ischemia) can be detected and located, which can lead to
angina pectoris or a myocardial infarction.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE

An magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an imaging

test that uses strong magnets and radio waves to
◦
create images of the heart. No radiation (X-rays) is
used.

CARDIAC
CATHETERIZATION

It is an invasive method with diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, whose

common factor is that it is performed by inserting a catheter into the
vacular system, which is advanced to the cardiac structures, penetrating
them if necessary, that is why it is called invasive cardiology , providing
detailed information about the internal structures of the heart