Medical Terminology Presentation 5

1. Presentation 5: Diagnostic and
Therapeutic Procedures
By: Julianne Mangan

2. Stress Testing
• Also called an exercise test or treadmill test.
• This procedure evaluates cardiovascular
fitness during physical stress.
• The patient is asked to exercise by
walking/running on a treadmill or pedaling a
bicycle to make the heart work hard and beat
fast at a steadily increasing level.

3. • An electrocardiogram (EKG) and oxygen levels
are recorded to diagnose a patients problem.
• A stress test will detect the following:
– Abnormal changes in heart rate or blood pressure
– Shortness of breath or chest pain
– Abnormal changes in heart rhythm or electrical
activity
• The test is stopped if the patient cannot
exercise for as long as what is considered
“normal” for the patient’s age.

5. Thrombolytic Therapy
thromb/o= clot
-lytic= destruction
• This is a process in which drugs are injected
into a blood vessel to break up or dissolve a
blood clot and restore blood flow.
• Thrombolytic medications are typically used
for the immediate treatment of stroke or
heart attack.
• Ideally, a patient should be given the
medication within the first 30 minutes of
receiving treatment.

6. • The most commonly used thrombolytic drug is
tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), however
other drugs include streptokinase (SK),
staphylokinase, reteplase, lenotaplase, and
tenecteplase.
• Depending on the severity, additional therapy such
as catheterization or angioplasty may be needed to
restore blood flow.

7. Doppler Ultrasonography
ultra- =beyond
son/o =sound
-graphy =process of recording
• This test uses ultrasound to look at the blood
flow through the blood vessels.
• With the use of a transducer, the ultrasound
will measure sound-wave echoes as they
bounce of tissues and organs to produce an
image that demonstrates the appearance of
blood clots or deep vein thromboses.

8. • Normal results would mean there are no signs
of narrowing, blockage or clots in the blood
vessels and arteries have normal blood flow.

9. References
• "Doppler Ultrasound Exam of an Arm or Leg: MedlinePlus Medical
Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National
Library of Medicine, 07 Apr. 2014. Web. 17 June 2015.
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003775.htm)
• Medical Terminology: A Living Language. 5th ed. New Jersey:
Pearson, 2013. 137-65. Print.
• "Thrombolytic Therapy: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S
National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13
May 2014. Web. 17 June 2015.
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007089.htm)
• "What Is Stress Testing?" - NHLBI, NIH. U.S Department of Health
and Human Services, 14 Dec. 2011. Web. 17 June 2015.
(https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/stress)