Cardiovascular technologist

A cardiovascular technician, also known as a vascular technician, is health professional that deal with the circulatory system.

Technologists who use ultrasound to examine the heart chambers, valves, and vessels are referred to as cardiac sonographers.^[1] They use ultrasound instrumentation to create images called echocardiograms. An echocardiogram may be performed while the patient is either resting or physically active. Technicians may administer medication to physically active patients to assess their heart function. Cardiac sonographers also may assist transesophageal echocardiography, which involves placing a tube in the patient's esophagus to obtain ultrasound images.

Those who assist in the diagnosis of disorders affecting the circulation are known as vascular technologist, vascular specialists or vascular sonographers. They obtain a medical history, evaluate pulses and assess blood flow in arteries and veins by listening to the vascular flow sounds for abnormalities. Then they perform a noninvasive procedure using ultrasound instrumentation to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, blood pressure, changes in limb volume, oxygen saturation, cerebral circulation, peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Many of these tests are performed during or immediately after surgery.

Cardiovascular technicians who obtain EKGs are known as electrocardiograph (or EKG) technicians. To take a basic EKG, which traces electrical impulses transmitted by the heart, technicians attach electrodes to the patient's chest, arms, and legs, and then manipulate switches on an EKG machine to obtain a reading. An EKG is printed out for interpretation by the physician. This test is done before most kinds of surgery or as part of a routine physical examination, especially on persons who have reached middle age or who have a history of cardiovascular problems.

高度な訓練を受けた心電図技師は、ホルター心電図モニターと負荷心電図検査のセットアップを行います。ホルター心電図検査では、技師は患者の胸に電極を装着し、携帯型心電図モニターを患者のベルトに取り付けます。患者が24時間以上通常の活動をした後、技師はモニターからテープを取り外し、スキャナーにセットします。電子画面で記録された心電図信号の質を確認した後、技師は通常、テープから情報を印刷して医師による分析に用います。医師はスキャナーの出力を使用して、心拍リズム異常やペースメーカーの問題など、心臓疾患を診断します。

トレッドミル負荷試験では、心電図技師が患者の病歴を記録し、検査手順を説明し、患者を心電図モニターに接続し、基準値と安静時血圧を測定します。次に、患者がトレッドミル上で歩行している間の心臓の働きを監視し、運動負荷の増加による影響を観察するために、トレッドミルの速度を徐々に上げていきます。

この職種は一般的に無資格であり、スキルはOJTで習得するが、短期大学やコミュニティカレッジでは、高度な心電図技術スキルを習得するための2年制および4年制の研修プログラムが用意されている。^{[ 2 ]}

• 心血管資格認定国際