Investigations in CVS Disorders: ECG to Angiography Explained

1. CHEST X-RAY (CXR)

Uses:

  • Checks heart size & shape
  • Detects pulmonary congestion & cardiomegaly
  • Identifies aortic & pulmonary abnormalities

Mnemonic: "CXR = HAP"

  • Heart size & shape
  • Aortic & pulmonary abnormalities
  • Pulmonary congestion

2. ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (ECHO)

Types:
2D ECHO – Shows real-time heart images.
Doppler ECHO – Measures blood flow velocity.
Transesophageal ECHO (TEE) – High-resolution posterior heart imaging.

Mnemonic: "2D Doppler TEEs the Heart!"

  • 2D – Structure
  • Doppler – Flow
  • TEE – Posterior

3. DOPPLER ECHO

Uses sound waves to assess blood flow

  • Detects stenosis, regurgitation, pressure gradients
  • Uses Color Flow Imaging
  • Pulsed-Wave & Continuous-Wave Doppler

Mnemonic: "Red Toward, Blue Away!"

Red = Blood towards probe
Blue = Blood away from probe


4. STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

  • Exercise or Drug-Induced Stress
  • Helps diagnose ischemic heart disease
  • Identifies wall motion abnormalities

Mnemonic: "Stress Echo = Stressed Heart Check"


5. NUCLEAR CARDIOLOGY

  • Uses radioisotopes to check heart function
  • Detects ischemia, infarction, and viability
  • Includes PET, SPECT, Thallium Scan

Mnemonic: "PET SPECTs the Heart"

  • Positron Emission Tomography
  • Single Photon Emission CT

6. CARDIAC MRI & CT

  • MRI – Soft tissue & heart muscle imaging
  • CT – Detects coronary calcifications & blockages

Mnemonic: "MRI for Muscle, CT for Calcium"


7. CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION (ANGIOGRAPHY)

  • Gold standard for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD)
  • Uses contrast dye & X-ray
  • Measures intracardiac pressures

Routes:
Femoral (Preferred)
Brachial (Alternative)

Mnemonic: "Cath Checks CAD"

  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Contrast dye
  • Arterial access
  • Diagnostic test

8. BLOOD TESTS FOR HEART DISEASE

  • Cardiac MarkersTroponin, CK-MB
  • Lipid ProfileCholesterol levels
  • BNP (Brain Natriuretic Peptide) – Checks heart failure
  • D-Dimer – Checks for clots

Mnemonic: "TLC for the Heart"

  • Troponin – Heart Attack
  • Lipid Profile – Cholesterol
  • CK-MB – Myocardial Damage

FINAL REVISION WITH MNEMONICS

  • CXR = "HAP" (Heart, Aorta, Pulmonary Congestion)
  • 2D Doppler TEEs the Heart
  • Red Toward, Blue Away! (Doppler Echo)
  • PET SPECTs the Heart
  • MRI for Muscle, CT for Calcium
  • Cath Checks CAD
  • TLC for the Heart (Troponin, Lipids, CK-MB)  

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