Cardiac Rehab: Week 4

This week I was able to spend more time with the exercise physiologist, Kelly. I sat with her during an evaluation session. She taught me how to set up a patient on monitor, input information while testing, and determine the PR, QRS, and QT distances. I also observed a bubble study with Pat. It took place in the stress test/echo lab. A bubble study tests if there is a hole in the wall of the septum, known as an atrial septal defect. An IV line was first put into the patient's arm. Saline was then injected into the vein with air in order to create tiny bubbles. The fluid travels to the right side of the heart which will then be seen on the echo image. Typically, the lungs should filter out the bubbles. However, if there is a small opening between the heart's upper chambers, then some of the bubbles will travel through the hole and can be seen on the left side of the heart. The hole is called a patent foramen ovale (PFO). It is seen in everyone before birth, however, should close up with age. Pat explained to me how this error can cause health problems such as strokes and heart failure. Unfortuanately, this patient showed positive results of having an atrial septal defect. As Pat injected the saline and air, bubbles were constantly seen. It was really interesting to see.