The CardiovascularThe CardiovascularSystemSystem

The Cardiovascular SystemThe Cardiovascular System

Purpose:Purpose: Maintain blood distribution throughout the bodyMaintain blood distribution throughout the body Deliver oxygen to cells and tissues Deliver oxygen to cells and tissues Removes waste such as carbon dioxideRemoves waste such as carbon dioxide

Also known as the circulatory systemAlso known as the circulatory system

Cardiovascular CompositionCardiovascular Composition

The cardiovascular system is composed of 2 The cardiovascular system is composed of 2 main parts:main parts:

The heartThe heart

Blood vessels – arteries, capillaries and veinsBlood vessels – arteries, capillaries and veins

Cardiovascular ProceduresCardiovascular Procedures

In order to determine the health and In order to determine the health and effectiveness of the cardiovascular system, many effectiveness of the cardiovascular system, many tests and procedures can be performed includingtests and procedures can be performed including

Cardiac EnzymesCardiac Enzymes Doppler ultrasoundDoppler ultrasound Holter monitor Holter monitor Cardiac scanCardiac scan Stress testStress test EchocardiographyEchocardiography

Extracorporeal circulation

Ligation and stripping

Thrombolytic therapy

PTAC

Cardiac EnzymesCardiac Enzymes

Clinical laboratory test, also known as a cardiac Clinical laboratory test, also known as a cardiac marker testmarker test

Determines the levels of enzymes in the blood Determines the levels of enzymes in the blood specific to the heart musclespecific to the heart muscle

An increase in these enzymes can indicate heart An increase in these enzymes can indicate heart muscle damage such as a myocardial infarction muscle damage such as a myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack(MI), or heart attack

Cardiac EnzymesCardiac Enzymes

Many enzymes may be Many enzymes may be tested for, including:tested for, including: Troponin – released after Troponin – released after

an MIan MI Creatine Kinase – can Creatine Kinase – can

indicate an MIindicate an MI Myoglobin – may indicate Myoglobin – may indicate

heart muscle damageheart muscle damage Lactate dehydrogenase – Lactate dehydrogenase –

released during muscle released during muscle damage damage

Cardiac EnzymesCardiac Enzymes

Cardiac enzyme tests can are used to determine Cardiac enzyme tests can are used to determine the possibility of damage to the heartthe possibility of damage to the heart

Further testing is usually performed to verify the Further testing is usually performed to verify the extent of the damageextent of the damage

Cardiac enzymes may take several hours to Cardiac enzymes may take several hours to accumulate in the body, making it difficult to accumulate in the body, making it difficult to diagnose an acute myocardial infarctiondiagnose an acute myocardial infarction

Doppler UltrasoundDoppler Ultrasound

Measurement of sound wave echoes as they Measurement of sound wave echoes as they bounce off tissues and organs to produce an bounce off tissues and organs to produce an imageimage

Used in the cardiovascular system to measure Used in the cardiovascular system to measure the velocity of blood flowing through blood the velocity of blood flowing through blood vesselsvessels

Can be used to diagnose blood clots or deep Can be used to diagnose blood clots or deep vein thrombosesvein thromboses

Doppler UltrasoundDoppler Ultrasound

Blood Clots, or thrombus is a clot of blood Blood Clots, or thrombus is a clot of blood within a vessel which can slow down or stop the within a vessel which can slow down or stop the flow of blood completelyflow of blood completely

Deep vein thromboses is the formation of a clot Deep vein thromboses is the formation of a clot within a deep vein, mainly in the legswithin a deep vein, mainly in the legs

These are potentially life threatening conditions, These are potentially life threatening conditions, as the clots can detach, or embolize, and travel as the clots can detach, or embolize, and travel into the lungsinto the lungs

Doppler UltrasoundDoppler Ultrasound

Doppler ultrasound Doppler ultrasound testing can be used to testing can be used to determine the location of determine the location of any potential clots any potential clots

Stress TestStress Test

Test conducted to evaluate cardiovascular fitnessTest conducted to evaluate cardiovascular fitness

Involves the patient performing some type of Involves the patient performing some type of exercise with increasing intensityexercise with increasing intensity

While performing these activities, the patient’s While performing these activities, the patient’s heart will be monitored using a EKG machine, heart will be monitored using a EKG machine, and oxygen levels or blood pressure may also be and oxygen levels or blood pressure may also be monitoredmonitored

Stress TestStress Test

EKG, or EKG, or electrocardiography, is a electrocardiography, is a way to monitor the way to monitor the electrical impulses of the electrical impulses of the heartheart

Involves multiple Involves multiple electrodes connected to electrodes connected to specific areas on a specific areas on a patient’s chestpatient’s chest

Stress TestStress Test

Stress tests are usually Stress tests are usually conducted on a treadmill conducted on a treadmill or stationary bikeor stationary bike

If any abnormalities are If any abnormalities are seen on the EKG, the seen on the EKG, the test is stopped and test is stopped and further investigation of further investigation of the heart is requiredthe heart is required

Cardiovascular TestCardiovascular Test

These are just 3 of the many tests that can be These are just 3 of the many tests that can be performed on the cardiovascular systemperformed on the cardiovascular system

To ensure a healthy heart, regular exercise and a To ensure a healthy heart, regular exercise and a healthy diet are recommendedhealthy diet are recommended

Activities such as smoking can lead to a higher Activities such as smoking can lead to a higher risk of cardiac diseaserisk of cardiac disease

Cardiovascular SystemCardiovascular System