Cardio respiratory

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Cardio Respiratory Services
Green Zone
Level 3

Call: 01634 825233

The cardio respiratory service is staffed by a team of highly skilled specialists in all aspects of cardiac and respiratory investigation and diagnosis working alongside the cardiology service.

We offer a range of tests to investigate and diagnose heart and lung disease, as well as sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea. A common example of a cardio respiratory test is an electrocardiogram (ECG), where sensors are attached to your skin read electrical signals produced by your heartbeat. These are recorded and looked at by a heart specialist or any doctor (such as your GP) to see if they are unusual.

The tests offered are:

  • electrocardiograms (ECGs)
  • echocardiograms and transoesophageal echos (TOEs)
  • exercise (stress) tests
  • holter monitoring (24, 48 72 and seven day ECG tape recordings)
  • 24 hour blood pressure monitors
  • event (patient activated) recorders
  • pacemaker and implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) follow up clinics
  • follow up of implantable (Reveal) ECG recording devices
  • tilt table studies pacemaker, ICD and biventricular pacemaker Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) implantation
  • coronary angiography
  • coronary angioplasty (PCI)
  • right and left heart catheterisation
  • spirometry (a test that can help diagnose various lung conditions)
  • full lung function tests
  • reversibility
  • transfer factor
  • hypoxic challenge (fit to fly) testing
  • six minute walk tests
  • overnight oximetry (to test for sleep disorders)

More information about these tests can be found on the British Heart Foundation website and the NHS.uk website.

Cardiac Physiologists

A range of non-invasive cardiac diagnostic tests are undertaken by cardiac physiologists. These tests are used to diagnose and monitor a range of different heart conditions. Tests include ECG, Holter monitoring (ambulatory ECG), Echocardiograms, Exercise ECG and tilt table tests. The department also perform follow-up tests for patients with implantable cardiac devices such as pacemakers and ICDs.

The results of your tests will not usually be given to you on the day and forwarded to the healthcare professional who referred you for the investigation.

Cardiac looks at heart problems such as blood flow, the structure of the heart, the electrical conduction system of the heart.

A cardiac physiologist will see in you in clinic and will complete a range of tests as requested by a clinician. These may include an electrocardiogram (ECG) echocardiograms,), fitting patient’s with a portable cardiac monitoring device called a Holter monitor for at least 24 hours, and blood pressure measurements.

Cardiac physiology tests are painless.

A nurse in a mask prepares medical instruments in the Catheter Lab

Cardiac Catheter Suite

The Cardiac Catheter Suite provides an inpatient and outpatient service for those over the age of 16 who require invasive procedures such as coronary angiogram, coronary angioplasty, intra vascular ultra sound, pressure wire study, shock wave, pacemaker, pacemaker box change, cardiac resynchronization therapy with an implantable cardiovertor-defibrillator, cardiac resynchronization therapy with a pacemaker, trans oesophageal echocardiogram and cardioversion.

It has a procedure room where tests and X-rays are undertaken and a recovery area which operates a single sex policy to ensure privacy and dignity for all patients.

Respiratory and Sleep Service

The respiratory and sleep service, run by a team of respiratory and sleep physiologists, provides a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic investigations for respiratory diseases and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Tests include, spirometry and flow volume loops to measure airflow through the airways, full lung function tests to measure airflow, capacity and efficiency of the lungs, bronchodilator reversibility tests to assess the response to medications, respiratory muscle weakness tests to determine the strength of the diaphragm and other muscles involved during breathing.

In-lab and home overnight sleep studies are performed to help investigate sleep related breathing disorders, mainly sleep apnoea. The department also offers treatment for OSA, specifically continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, which involves wearing a mask at night time.

GPs can refer patients directly to us for the tests below:

  • spirometry (a test that can help diagnose various lung conditions)
  • electrocardiograms (ECGs)
  • echocardiograms
  • rapid access chest pain clinic referrals
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