Question

Cardiovascular Decease Evaluation and Rational   Cardiac CT scan

Answer 1

Cardiovascular Disease Evaluation:

Cardiovascular disease evaluation include

Subjective data : Patient's point of view

Objective data : Measurable with examination and tests

Inspection : Looking at the patient

Palpation : Feeling the patient

Auscultation : Listening to the patient's heart

Subjective data includes questioning patient about their well being that includes underlying symptoms if any like chest pain, personal/family history of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, physical activity, smoking status, diet, alcohol/drug use.

Objective data includes heights and weight trends assess fluid and nutritional status. Weight loss over months or years may indicate advancing cardiovascular disease and be a sign of poor nutrition and muscle wasting.

Inspection includes overview of general apperance, level of alertness, skin, mucous membranes, fingers.

Palpation is sometimes overlooked, but still an important aspect of the cardiovascular assesment. Plapate the apical impluse, noting the size, location, intensity, amplitude and duration.

Auscultation of the heart should be done with the patient in three positions, sitting up, lying on the left side, lying on back with head of bed elevated 30-45 degrees.

During evaluation use good quality stethoscope, use the diaphragm to hear high pitched sounds, use the bell, held lightly against the skin, to hear low-pitched sound. During evaluation quiet environment should be maintained. As you listen to the heart over the entire precordium, or anterior chest wall, use a zigzag pattern, starting at the base of the heart and working downward towards the apex.

Rational cardiac CT scan:

Before you undergo the cardiac CT scan the patient will be asked few questions like do you have any particular reactions or allergies that might be important in the scan. In addition to that there will be a full questionnaire given to you asked prior to the procedure. The procedure starts with putting a little drip in the arm before the CT scan. It is used so that patient is given a contrast dye during the course of scan. Sometimes an intra-venous drug is used which slows the heart - rate down and takes a bit of adrenaline. Before the patient lies on the machine he will be instructed to remain relaxed after that as soon as you're lying on the bed, the ECG monitor is connected using the four stickers. After that heart rate is checked and the procedure proceeds for acquiring clear pictures of the heart here the task is holding the breath for about five seconds, three times on three separate occasions about a minute apart the instructions given to the patient during this course time is breathe in, breathe out, breathe in and hold it. First scan is a set up scan, second and third scan involves a small amount of contrast during this the patient experiences hot sensation, so that's the dye or the contrast that goes in through the drip. The scanning is complete within three minutes.