Our respiratory and cardiopulmonary team offer a variety of common testing services for your respiratory needs.
Pulmonary Function Test
Pulmonary Function Test or Spirometry is a breathing test to measure how much air is inhaled and exhaled. This test can help diagnose breathing diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), like emphysema.
Stress testing
Stress testing is a test to assess heart disorders such as coronary artery disease, rhythm problems, verify cardiac treatment is working, or in some cases check the heart before surgery.
-
Exercise Stress Test is testing that requires walking on the treadmill to increase heart rate while the health care providers monitor heart rhythm, blood pressure, and breathing.
-
Nuclear Medicine Stress Test is testing that requires coordination with nuclear medicine and a small amount of radioactive material is injected via IV while the heart is at rest and then again after exercise. Nuclear images are taken after each injection to compare the images and help asses blood flow and damage to the heart. For patients unable to walk on the treadmill, medicine can be given to increase he heartrate just as exercise does.
-
Stress Echocardiogram is testing that combines the stress test (either by walking or medicine) and special ultrasound pictures are taken before and after the stress portion to assess how well the heart is functioning under stress.
Event Monitoring
Holter or Event Monitoring is testing that requires an external monitor on the chest to record the heartbeat during normal everyday activities. The therapists will help with set up of the device and answer any questions on how to use it throughout the time requested. The ordering provider will order this device for as few as 24 hours up to 30 days.
Pulse Volume Recording
Ankle-brachial index (ABI) also called Pulse Volume Recording (PVR) is testing that requires blood pressures be taken in the arms and legs to compare and asses blood flow to check for peripheral artery disease (PAD) caused by arrowing or blockage of the arteries. This test is sometimes performed before and after walking on a treadmill to determine arterial narrowing with walking.
For questions about any of these tests please call our respiratory and cardiopulmonary team at 207-487-4082, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.