1/ Consultation: creation/update of the file, interview, clinical examination, biological analysis, electrocardiogram, suggested course of action with programming/orientation to other examinations/consultations if necessary.
2/ Resting cardiac ultrasound (= transthoracic echocardiography or TTE): uses ultrasound to analyse the morphology and contractility of the heart, its dimensions and those of the valves and vessels. It is an essential part of any cardiological work-up.
3/ Holter ECG: a medical device used to monitor the electrical activity of the heart over a given period, generally 24 to 48 hours, in order to diagnose rhythm disorders or cardiac conduction disorders. It uses a small portable device that the patient wears, connected to electrodes placed on the chest.
4/ Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM or blood pressure Holter): medical device used to measure a person's blood pressure over a given period (usually 24 hours): a small portable device worn by the patient is connected to a cuff that inflates periodically to measure blood pressure.
5/ Stress ultrasound: more sensitive than a "classic" stress test for identifying any problems with blood supply to the heart muscle, it can also be used to assess a defective valve during exercise. For practical reasons, the test is carried out on a semi-recumbent bicycle so that ultrasound images can be taken during exercise.
6/ Stress myocardial scintigraphy or persantine: medical imaging procedure using radioactive tracers to assess cardiac muscle perfusion. The patient makes an effort on a bicycle before the images are acquired, or if they are unable to pedal a pharmacological agent, persantine, is used to mimic the effort. This is carried out in a care facility.
7/ Coroscanner: medical imaging procedure (scanner) used to assess the coronary arteries, using an injection of an iodinated contrast product. Painless and non-invasive examination. Carried out in a care facility.
8/ Coronary angiography: invasive medical procedure consisting of a precise examination of the coronary arteries and possible treatment by angioplasty (usually stenting). It is carried out in a care facility.
9/ Transoesophageal ultrasound (=TEO): used to assess the heart (and in particular the valves and other small structures that are difficult to access with a TTE and/or if the TTE is of limited value) using an endoscope via the oesophagus (the preferred route as the oesophagus is located just behind the heart). Performed in a care facility.
10/ Myocardial MRI: medical imaging procedure using magnetic fields and radio waves to study the structure and dimensions of the heart in a complementary and more detailed way than TTE, to quantify valve leaks, the presence of acute inflammation of the cardiac muscle (myocardium) and/or pericardium, or to reveal old myocardial scarring.
11/ Electrophysiological investigation: invasive procedure using venipuncture probes to investigate or pinpoint the mechanism of a rhythm abnormality or cardiac conduction. Carried out in a care facility.
12/ Ultrasound of the supra-aortic trunks and/or lower limbs (EDTSA and EDAMI): non-invasive, painless medical imaging procedure using ultrasound to study blood flow in the vessels of the neck and/or legs. Carried out in an angiology practice/health-care establishment.
