DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES/RADIOLOGY IN CHD CARE

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES/RADIOLOGY IN CHD CARE

• ECG: This is used to assess the electrical activity of the heart. It identifies the rate, rhythm of the heart. Can be requested pre or post operatively in Congenital Heart Diseases management.
• Chest Xray (CXR): This is used to evaluate the size and shape of your heart.
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: This is used to assess your heart’s structure, lungs and coronary arteries
• High-Resolution CT: This procedure provides a more detailed lung imaging.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This evaluates your heart’s structure, function and tissue characterization. Assesses cardiac activity and functioning
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET): This is used to assess cardinal metabolism and perfusion, assesses myocardial viability. It is almost not available in Nigeria.
• Pulse Oximetry: This measures the oxygen saturation levels of the blood, using a pulse oximeter. This usually depicts the adequacy of oxygenation of the blood, which can be a function of how well the heart functions. It is always a parameter that is measured frequently or continously with structural CHDs.

Pulse Oximetry should be part of the newborn screening protocols for congenital anomalies and CCHDs

• Cardiac Ultrasound: This assesses vascular flow and cardiac function. It can be Transoesophageal  or transthoracic echocardiography
• Cardiac Catheterization:This procedure evaluates coronary arteries and cardiac function.
• Angiography: This procedure evaluates vascular anatomy

Pulmonary Imaging

1. Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) scan: This procedure evaluates Lung ventilation and perfusion

2. Pulmonary Angiography: This procedure assesses pulmonary arteries and veins

3. CT Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA): This procedure evaluates pulmonary embolism