Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic tests performed in the Corpal Group facilities

 

Corpal Group performs all kinds of diagnostic tests to ensure that the patient will have a correct diagnosis as soon as possible.

Patients are informed, accompanied and advised at all times regarding the tests that are required, how they are performed and what they consist of.

 Diagnostic tests for cardiovascular diseases

Cardiology consult

In most conditions, the patient’s clinical symptoms are fundamental for a good diagnosis. The first thing is therefore a cardiology consult; together with tests such as an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and Holter, this will enable the doctor to reach a diagnosis. Clinical symptoms, described in an unhurried conversation with the patient and his/her family, a physical examination and the resulting notes are a basic aspect of how our group works, as we believe that this first contact is of the utmost importance. Information is key.

 

Radiology department

The Cordoba Red Cross Hospital’s Radiology department is experiences in imaging diagnosis in all radiological fields. It has cutting-edge technology for the diagnosis of cardiac diseases, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT scanning and ultrasound, all of which are essential for diagnosis and the therapeutic protocols for cardiovascular diseases. There is a close connection between radiologists and cardiologists, facilitating a joint diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.

 

Electrocardiogram

Electrocardiogram is a test that records the heart’s electric activity at every heartbeat. It is painless and risk-free, and the patient has to lie down, without talking and breathing normally. Electrodes are adhered to the chest and pegged to the wrists and ankles, to register the same electric impulse from different positions.

Electrocardiogram is used to measure the rhythm and regularity of heartbeats and the size and position of atria and ventricles. This test is essential for the detection and analysis of cardiac arrhythmias. It is also useful in acute episodes such as myocardial infarction.

 

Echocardiogram

Echocardiogram is a diagnostic test that provides a moving picture of the heart. It is based on ultrasound and therefore represents no risk for the patient. It is used to obtain information about the shape, size, function and strength of the heart, its movement, the thickness of its walls, how its valves function, the pulmonary circulation and blood pressure, and also tells us about the aorta. There are several modalities of echocardiogram but the most commonly used in cardiology is called Colour-Doppler, and it enables us to see and measure how the blood flows through the heart and the arteries.

 

Transoesophageal echocardiogram

This test provides images of the heart through the oesophagus. It is invasive, as it is performed with a tube that is inserted in the mouth and reached the oesophagus. Based on ultrasound, it provides more detailed information about the heart’s valves, rules out the presence of blood clots (thrombi) and identifies congenital heart disorders that cannot be fully seen with a normal echocardiogram. The patient has to fast for the previous 4-6 hours, receives local anaesthesia in the throat and has to lie down while the  test is performed. A sedative is occasionally administered.

 

Holter monitor

Holter monitor is an electronic device that records and stores the patient’s electrocardiogram while he or she wears it for at least 24 hours. It measures the same as an electrocardiogram, but as monitoring is continued over time, it increases the likelihood of registering a cardiac event. The patient goes about his/her everyday life without a problem.

 

The Red Cross Hospital also has an experienced Clinical Analysis department that provides support for heart patients both for diagnostic and follow-up purposes. The hospital’s Radiology department provides our group with cutting-edge techniques, including Ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and CT scanning, with excellent resolution.

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Cardiólogos - Grupo Corpal
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