Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring – ABPM

The ABPM (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring), also called blood pressure holter, is a non-invasive technical method that aims to obtain a measurement of blood pressure during a determined period of time, generally 24 hours, in such a way that the data collected blood pressure can be later analyzed by your doctor.

Blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases; for this reason, this method is important both for the diagnosis and for its control.

The test is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient must come to our service for the placement of the Holter device. This consists of a bracelet that contains a sensor that detects arterial pulses during blood pressure measurement and that is connected to a recording device that records the data obtained. The cuff is designed to inflate periodically as programmed, generally every 15-20 minutes during the day and every 20-30 minutes at night. After inflating the cuff, it will gradually deflate and record the arterial pulses through the sensor, which allow obtaining blood pressure data. The record obtained is transmitted to a recording device that will store the data.

The patient usually leads a normal life during the day of the study.

You are only asked to write down certain situations throughout the day that may change your blood pressure data: for example, if you have been physically active, times of stress, or when you go to sleep and get up the next day.

The recording data obtained by the Holter device are later assessed by a specialist in the context of the daily activity recorded by the patient.

The equipment is automatic, lightweight and silent, and uses auscultatory or oscillometric methods to determine the pressure.

24-hour Holter monitoring.

A small device attached to the chest via wires and disposable electrodes is placed to record all heartbeats for a full day.

Holter monitoring can detect heart rhythm disturbances that the ECG does not detect since the latter records only a few minutes.

It is very important that during the study the patient performs all usual activities and records in the diary provided at the start of the study, all the symptoms that occur during the study, which allows correlation with the electrocardiographic tracings. The monitor should not be hit or get wet. At the end of the monitoring period, the device must be returned together with the diary where the symptoms were recorded.

The doctor will subsequently process, filter, interpret and analyze the record obtained to make the final report.

Spirometry

Spirometry is a non-invasive test that allows knowing the lung function of a person. It consists of breathing through the mouth through a small tube, and forcing the breath to measure airflow. It gives us information about lung function, whether it is altered with an obstructive pattern (air cannot easily get out) or restrictive (air cannot get in). This helps a lot to decide a useful treatment, and allows to focus the diagnosis with the clinic or other tests.

Electroencephalography

Brain cells communicate with each other by producing small electrical signals, called impulses. An Electroencephalogram is a graphic record of this brain electrical activity. It is used to explore the different brain areas in operation, in patients of any age.

For whom is it indicated?
It is used to diagnose a number of brain diseases, particularly epilepsy.

Modalities
Waking digital EEG: recording time 20 – 30 minutes
Prolonged sleep-wake EEG: 120 minutes with the patient lying down, evaluating the tracing and recording during wakefulness and during sleep
EEG throughout the night, 24-48 and up to 72 hours continuously.

Preparation
Clean and dry hair, without additives.

Electrocardiogram

This is a classic diagnostic method of the specialty, which consists of the graphic recording of the electrical activity of the heart.

Despite being in medical practice for more than a century, it continues to be a vital element in the diagnostic study of many cardiovascular diseases:

• heart pains
• arrhythmias
• malformations
• overloads

But the most important thing in this diagnostic element is the specialist’s interpretation. Our group of expert cardiologists are the basis for the interpretation of this useful, practical and economical method. With appropriate state-of-the-art technology, it will provide security for a correct diagnosis.

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