Functional diagnostics examinations

In the department of functional diagnostics, diagnostic examinations are performed to assess the function of the heart and its condition.

Working time Mon−Fri 8:00−16:00.

• Electrocardiography (ECG) - provides information about heart rate and various rhythm disorders. It is a basic examination for a cardiac patient that is carried out both for patients with existing cardiovascular diseases and in cases of suspected heart disease. Booking an appointment is not necessary
• Cardiac stress test - physical stress test on a treadmill or bicycle ergometer. During this examination, an ECG is recorded, blood pressure is measured and the patient's general condition and possible complaints are monitored. It is mainly used for the diagnosis of coronary disease and arrhythmias and for the assessment of exercise tolerance. The examination lasts 45-60 minutes.
• Holter, or 24-hour rhythm monitoring, is the recording of the daily heart rhythm using a portable device that records the ECG during the patient's daily activities. It is used in the diagnosis of arrhythmias and syncopes as well as in the management of treatment of different conditions. The examination can be done both on an outpatient and inpatient basis. It is also possible to schedule 72-hour Holter examinations, to which the cardiologist or neurologist may refer a patient after the 24-hour monitoring has been done.
• 24-hour blood pressure monitoring For this, a cuff is placed on the upper arm, which is connected to a portable blood pressure monitor. The examination enables discovering latent (early stage) blood pressure disease, to assess the daily rhythm of blood pressure, to determine the severity of the blood pressure disease, to prescribe treatment and to monitor its effectiveness. The device measures blood pressure after every 30 minutes during the day and once an hour at night, while also recording the heart rate. The examination can be done both on an outpatient and inpatient basis.
• Echocardiography - an ultrasound examination of the heart evaluates the heart's anatomy, heart valves, heart muscle and its pumping function. During the examination, all indicators are evaluated from different points of view and an ultrasound sensor is used to obtain an image. The duration of the examination is 60 minutes.
• Transoesophageal echocardiography - in the case of transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the scope is passed through the mouth along the oesophagus behind the heart – the images are recorded closer to the heart. In this way, more accurate images of the walls, chambers and valves of the heart can be obtained than with conventional echocardiography. A TEE is often used to evaluate for clots in the heart before cardioversion. The duration of the examination is 60 minutes. To perform TEE, the oral mucosa is first topically anaesthetised, which reduces the patient’s gag reflex. In addition, a sedative is used intravenously, which makes the examination much easier to bear. Due to the sedative administered, you must not drive a vehicle for at least 6 hours after the procedure. Patients must not eat or drink for at least 4 hours before the examination.
• Determination of the ankle-brachial (ABI) index. The examination is indicated for patients with high cardiovascular risk (smoking, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, age, hereditary anamnesis) when peripheral artery disease is suspected. Can also be used to assess the prognosis of healing in patients with chronic ulcers. The duration of the examination is up to 15 minutes.