How do you diagnose pulmonary valve stenosis?
Diagnosis of pulmonary valve stenosis begins with the patient’s medical history and a physical exam. Tests to confirm the diagnosis include chest x ray, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, and catherization. An electrocardiograph shows the heart’s activity. Electrodes covered with conducting jelly are placed on the patient. The electrodes send impulses that are traced on a recorder. Echocardiography uses sound waves to create an image of the heart’s chambers and valves. The technician applies gel to a wand (transducer) and presses it against the patient’s chest. The returning sound waves are converted into an image displayed on a monitor. Catherization is an invasive procedure used to diagnose, and in some cases treat, heart problems. A thin tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood vessel and threaded up into the heart, enabling physicians to see and sometimes correct the problems. Source: The Gale Group.
