Cardiovascular technologist
Encyclopedia
Cardiovascular technologists and technicians (similar but not the same as a Cardiac Physiologists in the UK) assist physicians in diagnosing and treating cardiac (heart
) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel
) ailments. Cardiovascular technologists may specialize in any of three areas of practice: invasive cardiology, echocardiography
, and vascular technology. Cardiovascular technicians who specialize in electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing
, and Holter monitors are known as cardiographic technicians, or EKG technicians.
Cardiovascular technologists specializing in invasive procedures are called invasive cardiovascular technologists. They assist physicians with cardiac catheterization procedures in which a small tube, or catheter
, is threaded through a patient’s artery
from a spot on the patient’s groin to the heart. The procedure can determine whether a blockage exists in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle. The procedure also can help to diagnose other problems. Part of the procedure may involve balloon angioplasty
and/or stenting, which can be used to treat blockages of blood vessels or heart valves without the need for heart surgery.
Invasive cardiovascular technologists assist physicians as they insert a catheter with a balloon on the end to the point of the obstruction. Invasive cardiovascular technologists prepare patients for cardiac catheterization and balloon angioplasty by first positioning them on an examining table and then shaving, cleaning, and administering anesthesia to the top of their leg near the groin. During the procedures, they monitor patients’ blood pressure
and heart rate via EKG, blood pressure, and SPO2 and notify the physician if something appears to be wrong. Technologists also may prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery and during the insertion of pacemakers
and stents that open up blockages in arteries to the heart and major blood vessels.
Technologists who use ultrasound
to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels are referred to as cardiac sonographers. They use ultrasound instrumentation to create images called echocardiograms. An echocardiogram may be performed while the patient is either resting or physically active. Technologists may administer medication to physically active patients to assess their heart function. Cardiac sonographers also may assist physicians who perform transesophageal echocardiography, which involves placing a tube in the patient’s esophagus to obtain ultrasound images.
Those who assist physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting the circulation are known as vascular technologists, vascular specialists or vascular sonographers. They perform a medical history, evaluate pulses and assess blood flow in arteries and veins by listening to the vascular flow sounds for abnormalities. Then they perform a noninvasive procedure using ultrasound instrumentation to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, changes in limb volume, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Many of these tests are performed during or immediately after surgery.
Cardiovascular technicians who obtain EKGs are known as electrocardiograph (or EKG) technicians. To take a basic EKG, which traces electrical impulses transmitted by the heart, technicians attach electrodes to the patient’s chest, arms, and legs, and then manipulate switches on an EKG machine to obtain a reading. An EKG is printed out for interpretation by the physician. This test is done before most kinds of surgery or as part of a routine physical examination, especially on persons who have reached middle age or who have a history of cardiovascular problems.
EKG technicians with advanced training perform Holter monitor and stress testing. For Holter monitoring, technicians place electrodes on the patient’s chest and attach a portable EKG monitor to the patient’s belt. Following 24 or more hours of normal activity by the patient, the technician removes a tape from the monitor and places it in a scanner. After checking the quality of the recorded impulses on an electronic screen, the technician usually prints the information from the tape for analysis by a physician. Physicians use the output from the scanner to diagnose heart ailments, such as heart rhythm abnormalities or problems with pacemakers.
For a treadmill stress test, EKG technicians document the patient’s medical history, explain the procedure, connect the patient to an EKG monitor, and obtain a baseline reading and resting blood pressure. Next, they monitor the heart’s performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill’s speed to observe the effect of increased exertion. Like vascular technologists and cardiac sonographers, cardiographic technicians who perform EKG, Holter monitor, and stress tests are known as “noninvasive” technicians.
Education / Training
In the US most cases cardiovascular technologists undergo two year accredited associate degree in cardiovascular technology. Most then go on to take board examinations offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International to obtain their RCIS (Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Technologist) credentials.
In the UK cardiac physiologists undergo 4 degree bachelor at a UK university. Registration is currently voluntary under the auspice of Registration Council of Clinical Physiologists. Cardiac Physiologists have actively pursue state registration (licensure) for years. The UK HPC approved there bid in 2003 but this yet is to become law.
EKG/ECG Technician normally don't undergo formally training and learn on the job. However, in recent years, one to two year certificate and diploma courses are available in both the US and UK.
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
) ailments. Cardiovascular technologists may specialize in any of three areas of practice: invasive cardiology, echocardiography
Echocardiography
An echocardiogram, often referred to in the medical community as a cardiac ECHO or simply an ECHO, is a sonogram of the heart . Also known as a cardiac ultrasound, it uses standard ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional slices of the heart...
, and vascular technology. Cardiovascular technicians who specialize in electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing
Stress testing
Stress testing is a form of testing that is used to determine the stability of a given system or entity. It involves testing beyond normal operational capacity, often to a breaking point, in order to observe the results...
, and Holter monitors are known as cardiographic technicians, or EKG technicians.
Cardiovascular technologists specializing in invasive procedures are called invasive cardiovascular technologists. They assist physicians with cardiac catheterization procedures in which a small tube, or catheter
Catheter
In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. The process of inserting a catheter is catheterization...
, is threaded through a patient’s artery
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
from a spot on the patient’s groin to the heart. The procedure can determine whether a blockage exists in the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle. The procedure also can help to diagnose other problems. Part of the procedure may involve balloon angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
and/or stenting, which can be used to treat blockages of blood vessels or heart valves without the need for heart surgery.
Invasive cardiovascular technologists assist physicians as they insert a catheter with a balloon on the end to the point of the obstruction. Invasive cardiovascular technologists prepare patients for cardiac catheterization and balloon angioplasty by first positioning them on an examining table and then shaving, cleaning, and administering anesthesia to the top of their leg near the groin. During the procedures, they monitor patients’ blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
and heart rate via EKG, blood pressure, and SPO2 and notify the physician if something appears to be wrong. Technologists also may prepare and monitor patients during open-heart surgery and during the insertion of pacemakers
Artificial pacemaker
A pacemaker is a medical device that uses electrical impulses, delivered by electrodes contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the heart...
and stents that open up blockages in arteries to the heart and major blood vessels.
Technologists who use ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is thus not separated from "normal" sound based on differences in physical properties, only the fact that humans cannot hear it. Although this limit varies from person to person, it is...
to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels are referred to as cardiac sonographers. They use ultrasound instrumentation to create images called echocardiograms. An echocardiogram may be performed while the patient is either resting or physically active. Technologists may administer medication to physically active patients to assess their heart function. Cardiac sonographers also may assist physicians who perform transesophageal echocardiography, which involves placing a tube in the patient’s esophagus to obtain ultrasound images.
Those who assist physicians in the diagnosis of disorders affecting the circulation are known as vascular technologists, vascular specialists or vascular sonographers. They perform a medical history, evaluate pulses and assess blood flow in arteries and veins by listening to the vascular flow sounds for abnormalities. Then they perform a noninvasive procedure using ultrasound instrumentation to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, changes in limb volume, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Many of these tests are performed during or immediately after surgery.
Cardiovascular technicians who obtain EKGs are known as electrocardiograph (or EKG) technicians. To take a basic EKG, which traces electrical impulses transmitted by the heart, technicians attach electrodes to the patient’s chest, arms, and legs, and then manipulate switches on an EKG machine to obtain a reading. An EKG is printed out for interpretation by the physician. This test is done before most kinds of surgery or as part of a routine physical examination, especially on persons who have reached middle age or who have a history of cardiovascular problems.
EKG technicians with advanced training perform Holter monitor and stress testing. For Holter monitoring, technicians place electrodes on the patient’s chest and attach a portable EKG monitor to the patient’s belt. Following 24 or more hours of normal activity by the patient, the technician removes a tape from the monitor and places it in a scanner. After checking the quality of the recorded impulses on an electronic screen, the technician usually prints the information from the tape for analysis by a physician. Physicians use the output from the scanner to diagnose heart ailments, such as heart rhythm abnormalities or problems with pacemakers.
For a treadmill stress test, EKG technicians document the patient’s medical history, explain the procedure, connect the patient to an EKG monitor, and obtain a baseline reading and resting blood pressure. Next, they monitor the heart’s performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill’s speed to observe the effect of increased exertion. Like vascular technologists and cardiac sonographers, cardiographic technicians who perform EKG, Holter monitor, and stress tests are known as “noninvasive” technicians.
Education / Training
In the US most cases cardiovascular technologists undergo two year accredited associate degree in cardiovascular technology. Most then go on to take board examinations offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International to obtain their RCIS (Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Technologist) credentials.
In the UK cardiac physiologists undergo 4 degree bachelor at a UK university. Registration is currently voluntary under the auspice of Registration Council of Clinical Physiologists. Cardiac Physiologists have actively pursue state registration (licensure) for years. The UK HPC approved there bid in 2003 but this yet is to become law.
EKG/ECG Technician normally don't undergo formally training and learn on the job. However, in recent years, one to two year certificate and diploma courses are available in both the US and UK.
External links
- Cardiovascular Credentialing International
- The American Society of Echocardiography
- The Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals
- The Society for Vascular Ultrasound
- CAAHEP
- The Irish Society of Cardiological Technology
- UK Registration Council of Clinical Physiologists
- Malaysian Society of Cardiovascular Technologist