CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY (CARDIAC CATHETERISATION)
Dr. Richard Mansfield
BSc (Hons) MB ChB MD FRCP FESC
CONSULTANT CARDIOLOGIST
Note: I am happy to answer general questions regarding the content of this website, but I cannot give clinical advice. Such requests will not be answered.
This test is carried out like an electrocardiogram with a number of electrodes placed on the body. An ECG is recorded at rest and also whilst the patient is walking on a treadmill. Pulse rate and blood pressure are recorded throughout the test. There are a number of stages to the test with the speed and incline of the treadmill varying every three minutes as the test progresses. The exercise ECG can indicate whether or not there is a problem with the blood flow down one or more of the heart arteries.
There is often confusion by what is meant by a positive or negative test. A positive test indicates that there are changes on the ECG that may suggest a problem with a heart artery and may lead to further investigation with a coronary angiogram. It may also reveal an abnormal heart rhythm.
Exercise Treadmill Room - Typical layout of an exercise treadmill room. This test is used in the assessment of chest pain.
JPEG (33 kb)