Medpedia

Cardiac computed tomography or cardiac CT is a test that uses x-rays to take detailed pictures of the heart. Other Names CAT scan of the heart Coronary CT angiography Coronary artery scan CT angiography (CTA) of the heart Multidetector CT of the heart (MDCT) Description During a cardiac CT scan, the x-ray machine moves around the body in a circle and takes a picture of each part of the h...

be 'inverted' and this condition is called Dextrocardia Situs Inversus Totalis. The prevalence of this condition is reported to be about 1 in 10000 peopleRaina T, Grech ED & Cumberland D. 2008. Percutaneous coronary intervention in dextrocardia. British Journal of Cardiology. 15(2) . Kartagener’s Syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 25 of people with Dextrocardia Situs Inversus Totalis. This disorder affects the sinus and bronchial cilia causing constant sinus and bronchial symptoms that medication can

-to-day activities vary significantly between specialties. Significant Points Employment is expected to grow much faster than average; technologists and technicians trained to perform certain procedures will be in particular demand. About 3 out of 4 jobs are in hospitals. The vast majority of workers complete a 2-year junior or community college program. Nature of the Work Cardiovascular technologists may specialize in any of three areas of practice: invasive cardiology, echocardiography, o

Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents (beta-blockers) are drugs with multiple actions on the heart. Blockade of beta-1 receptors results in slowing of heart rate, reduction in myocardial contractility, and lowering of systemic blood pressure. In the context of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which represents a state of reduced oxygen supply to the affected portion of the heart, these eff...

Nitroglycerin is a drug used to treat or prevent angina, a particular kind of chest pain associated with reduced blood flow to the heart. It works by changing the properties of blood vessels throughout the body. Unlike other drugs that are based on animal- or plant-derived molecules, nitroglycerin is entirely synthetic. Nitroglycerin's adoption as a drug was complicated by the fact that it is a...

Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) are fully licensed to prescribe medication and practice in all specialty areas, including surgery. The osteopathic medical philosophy emphasizes preventive health care and focuses on the unity of all body parts. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, D.O.s regard the body as an integrated whole and they help patients develop attitudes and lifesty...

CT is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses x rays to obtain cross-sectional images of the body. Since its introduction and rapid adoption into medicine in the mid-1970s, CT has become recognized as a valuable medical tool for the diagnosis of disease, trauma, or abnormality and for planning, guiding, and monitoring therapy. UseCurrently some medical imaging facilities are promoting a new us...

Introduction Worldwide, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the largest single cause of death among women, accounting for one third of all deaths.Women. World Heart Federation Web site. Available at: Accessed October 6, 2006. In many countries, including the United States, more women than men die every year of CVD, a fact largely unknown by physicians.Thom T, Haase N, Rosamond W, Howard VJ, Rumsf...

Diagnostic imaging embraces several procedures that aid in diagnosing ailments, the most familiar being the x ray. In nuclear medicine, radionuclides—unstable atoms that emit radiation spontaneously—are used to diagnose and treat disease. Radionuclides are purified and compounded to form radiopharmaceuticals. Nuclear medicine technologists administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients and then mo...

Original materials created in January 1999 by Eileen Hoffman, M.D. HistoryJL is a 43-year-old business executive with a history of recurrent palpitations. She initially presented to the emergency room for a prolonged, symptomatic episode. Her ECG showed a sustained ventricular tachycardia. Cardiology evaluation revealed multiple atrial ventricular bypass tracts. These required several endocardial ablations and antiarrhythmic therapy. However, she remained symptomatic and eventually had