The NICL at CVSKL is an outpatient and inpatient facility that performs cardiovascular diagnostic procedures. The services are supported by our dedicated team of certified cardiovascular technologists/technicians, nurses and clerical staff.
Electrocardiogram, more commonly known as ECG, is a diagnostic tool to record the heart’s electrical activity. Routine ECGs record your heart rhythm in a form of a graph occurring within a minute. The interpretation of these details allows the diagnosis of a range of heart diseases and irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Estimated completion time: 5 – 10 minutes
The stress test is a walking on a treadmill assessment performed to assist in the diagnosis of possible coronary artery diseases. It may also aid in the investigation of irregular heart rhythms.
Estimated completion time: 25 – 35 minutes
ECHO is known as an ultrasound examination of the heart. This diagnostic procedure uses high-frequency sound waves to create moving images of the heart and its related structure. It evaluates the overall heart function and valvular heart diseases.
Estimated completion time: 20 – 30 minutes
A stress ECHO involves an examination of your heart at rest and when it reaches its peak level. On top of the exercise stress test (treadmill), it gives the cardiologist more information on ischemic heart disease (IHD) by taking ultrasound images of the heart muscles contraction during pre and post-exercise and ECG monitoring during the exercise.
Estimated completion time: 30 – 45 minutes
It acts as a stress test for patients that have difficulty walking. An intravenous (IV) Dobutamine is infused at a slow rate to increase the heart rate which mimics exercise. The infusion will be stopped once the target heart rate is achieved, or if any events occur during the test. It gives the cardiologist more information about ischemic heart disease by taking ultrasound images of the heart muscle contraction at various stages of pre, during and post-infusion of Dobutamine.
Estimated completion time: 60 – 90 minutes
A Holter monitor is a portable battery-operated device that records the heart’s electrical activity like an ECG over a 24-hour period. The recordings are analyzed to detect if there is any irregular or abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmias).
ABPM measures your blood pressure at regular intervals over the course of 24 hours while you undergo your usual daily activities. It uses a small device that is attached around your body, with a cuff connected to your upper arm. The monitor pumps every 30 minutes during the day (7 am to 10 pm) and every hour at night (10 pm to 7 am).
An event recorder records your heart’s electrical activity when you start experiencing symptoms. It records the same information as ECG but for a longer duration each time. The recorder will start recording upon activation by the patient, thereby allowing it to record the same information from a few minutes prior to the activation. This allows the clinicians to have a full picture of what happens before, during and after the symptom occurs.