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An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical activity of the heart. When you come for your test, an ECG technologist will explain the procedure and will apply small adhesive electrodes to your skin. In order to ensure that the electrodes adhere well, we may need to use fine sandpaper lightly on your skin or shave your skin. The electrodes are then attached by wires to an ECG machine.

You will be asked to lie still for a few minutes while the ECG machine records your heart’s electrical activity. A cardiologist will later interpret the test and send a report to your physician.

No preparation necessary.

Your physician has ordered this test to look for any heart rhythm problems.  At your appointment, a technologist will prepare your skin and apply small adhesive electrodes to your skin.  In order to ensure that the electrodes adhere well, we may need to use fine sandpaper lightly on your skin or shave your skin.  The electrodes are then attached by wires to a monitoring device called a Holter or a loop monitor.

If you are undergoing a Holter test, you will be asked to enter any symptoms (palpitations, shortness of breath, light headedness, chest pain) into a patient diary.  You will also be asked to record the time you experienced these symptoms.  You will be asked to remove the monitor at a specific time.

If you are undergoing a loop monitor test, you will be instructed to press the button on the monitor and to record your symptoms in your patient diary. You will be asked to remove the monitor at a specific time.

You will be given an appointment to return the monitor. The test will be interpreted by a cardiologist, and a report sent back to your doctor.

What will happen on the day of the test?
A stress technologist or physician will explain the risks and benefits of the treadmill stress test and will ask you to sign a consent form.  Your skin will be prepared, and electrodes will be placed on your chest.  These electrodes are attached to a heart monitor will allow us to watch your heart rate and rhythm during the test.

You will be asked to exercise on a treadmill.  The test will start slowly and gradually.  The speed and incline will increase gradually.  Your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the test.  You will be encouraged to exercise for as long as possible.

Instructions for Treadmill Stress Test:

1. Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 2 hours before the test.
2. Do not take the following medications for 48 hours before your test: beta blockers, nitrates, and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers.  Please check with your doctor.
3. Bring a list of your current medications.
4. Wear comfortable clothing and running shoes.

An echocardiogram is a special ultrasound examination of the heart that provides your doctor with live pictures of your heart to evaluate the anatomy and function of the heart muscle, chambers, and valves.  It is the same technology that is used to look at unborn babies in a pregnant woman.  It is a painless examination that takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes to perform.  A specially trained technologist called a sonographer will attach electrodes to your chest so that we may record your heart’s rhythm.  You will be asked to remove your clothing from the waist up and change into a hospital gown.   You will be asked to lie down on your left side on the exam table.  The lights will be dimmed during the examination. The sonographer will put gel on an ultrasound transducer which will be applied to your chest to look at your heart.  The recorded pictures will be analyzed later by a cardiologist who will send a report to your physician.

If parts of your heart muscle are not well seen, you may be given an intravenous injection of a medication called Definity which will allow us to see your heart better and increase the accuracy of the test.

No preparation necessary.

Your physician has requested that you undergo a stress echocardiogram.  This test combines an ultrasound of your heart and a stress test.  Images of your heart before and during stress will be recorded and compared.  In a normal heart, all areas of the heart muscle will pump harder with exercise or dobutamine (which is a drug that simulates exercise).  Abnormal movement of the heart’s walls during exercise may suggest blockage of a coronary artery.

Preparation for the Test:

1. Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 2 hours before the test.
2. Do not take the following medications for 48 hours before your test: beta blockers, nitrates, and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers.  Please check with your doctor or pharmacist.
3. Bring a list of your current medications.
4. Wear comfortable clothing and running shoes if you are doing a bicycle or treadmill stress echocardiogram.

What will happen on the day of the test?
A sonographer or physician will explain the risks and benefits of the stress echocardiogram and will ask you to sign a consent form.  Your skin will be prepared, and electrodes will be placed on your chest.  These electrodes are attached to a heart monitor will allow us to watch your heart rate and rhythm during the test.  If parts of your heart muscle are not well seen, you may be given an intravenous injection of a medication called Definity which will allow us to see your heart better and increase the accuracy of the test.

Bicycle or treadmill stress echocardiogram:
If your physician requested an exercise stress echo, you will be asked to exercise on a bicycle or treadmill.  The test will start slowly and gradually.  The resistance will increase gradually if you are exercising on a bicycle.  The speed and incline will increase gradually if you are exercising on a treadmill.  Your heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the test.  You will be encouraged to exercise for as long as possible.  Ultrasound images will be taken before and during, and/or after exercise.

Dobutamine stress echocardiogram:
Dobutamine is a medication that will stress your heart if you are not able to perform adequate exercise on a bicycle or treadmill.  The medication is given over 15 to 20 minutes and will be stopped when your target heart rate is reached.  If your target heart rate cannot be reached on the maximum dose of dobutamine, you may be given drug called atropine to raise your heart rate further.  Ultrasound images of your heart will be recorded before and at different stages during the test.

A Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE) provides valuable information to your physician which may not be obtainable from a transthoracic echocardiogram.  For example, it may be ordered to look for clots in the heart, more detailed examination of certain valvular diseases, or to evaluate the aorta.  The test involves the insertion of a special ultrasound probe into your esophagus (food pipe).  It is performed by a cardiologist with the assistance of a sonographer.

Before the test, the sonographer will explain the procedure and ask you to sign a consent form.  An intravenous will be inserted into your arm.  You will be asked to remove any dental appliances such as dentures.  The doctor will spray the back of your throat with a numbing medication (Xylocaine spray) and will administer a mild sedative (midazolam) to help you relax.  A bite guard will be placed between your teeth.  The cardiologist will insert the ultrasound probe into your mouth and ask you to swallow several times to help guide the probe into position.  The cardiologist will then perform the examination which should take about 15-20 minutes.  The sonographer will take pictures and perform measurements during the test.  The pictures will be later analyzed by the cardiologist, and a report sent back to your doctor.

Preparation for the Test:

1. Do not eat or drink for 6 hours before the test.
2. Bring a list of your current medications.
3. Have someone stay with you and accompany you home.
4. Do not eat or drink for at least 1 hour after the test.
5. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 12 hours after the test.

A pulmonary function test is a test used to assess how well your lungs work.  This includes how much air are in your lungs and how effective they are at providing oxygen to the rest of your body.  It is a painless examination that takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes.  During your test, the Respiratory Therapist will ask you to perform a series of different breathing techniques.  Some techniques could be repeated up to 8 times.  Once completed, a Respirologist will review the measurements and send an interpretation to your physician.

The following activities should be avoided before testing:

1. No smoking and/or vaping and/or water pipe use one hour prior to testing.
2. No vigorous exercise one hour prior to testing.
3. We ask you wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict your lungs from expanding.

Objective:

To determine whether one has asthma, as well as to measure its severity.

Description:

Before a Methacholine challenge (MC) test is requested by a physician, the patient will have had a baseline Pulmonary Function Test (PFT), including flow rates.

During the MC test, flow rates are measured before and after inhalations of various concentrations of methacholine.

Methacholine is a chemical which will cause changes in the flow rate measurements of people who have asthma.

If response to methacholine is noted, the effect will be reserved before the patient leaves the lab. Depending on the patient’s response, this test could be as short as ½ hour, or as long as an hour.  ​​​​​​​

If you have any questions regarding other medications or simply would like to inquire about the test, please call the Lab directly at 613 737-8255 Ext. 1

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A home oxygen assessment is performed to assess whether you might benefit from oxygen therapy.  Certain lung or other medical condition might limit the efficiency of your lungs to absorb oxygen.  This assessment will include one or a combination of the following: arterial blood gas (ABG), resting oximetry and exertional oximetry.  Measurements obtained might be used to support funding from the Ministry of Health.

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