# Cardiovascular technologist

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{{more citations needed|date=January 2015}}

A '''cardiovascular technician''', also known as a '''vascular technician''', is health professional that deal with the [circulatory system](/source/circulatory_system).

== Cardiac sonographer ==
Technologists who use [ultrasound](/source/ultrasound) to examine the [heart chambers](/source/heart_chambers), [valves](/source/valves), and [vessels](/source/Blood_vessel) are referred to as cardiac sonographers.<ref>{{cite web | title = Cardiac Sonographer | publisher = Mayo Clinic | url = https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/cardiac-sonographer/ | access-date = 5 May 2020}}</ref> They use ultrasound instrumentation to create images called echocardiograms. An [echocardiogram](/source/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](/source/transesophageal_echocardiography), which involves placing a tube in the patient's [esophagus](/source/esophagus) to obtain ultrasound images.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

== Vascular Technologist==
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](/source/noninvasive) procedure using ultrasound instrumentation to record vascular information such as vascular blood flow, [blood pressure](/source/blood_pressure), changes in limb volume, [oxygen saturation](/source/oxygen_saturation), [cerebral circulation](/source/cerebral_circulation), peripheral circulation, and abdominal circulation. Many of these tests are performed during or immediately after surgery.

== EKG technician ==
[[Image:12 lead generated sinus rhythm.JPG|right|thumb|An '''electrocardiogram technician''' can have many roles in the hospital, based around the recording of [electrocardiogram](/source/electrocardiogram)s, as depicted here]]
[Cardiovascular](/source/Cardiovascular) technicians who obtain EKGs are known as electrocardiograph (or EKG) technicians. To take a basic [EKG](/source/EKG), which traces electrical impulses transmitted by the heart, technicians attach [electrodes](/source/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.

EKG technicians with advanced training setup Holter monitor and stress testing. For Holter monitoring, technicians place electrodes on the patient's chest and attach a portable EKG monitor to the patient's belt. Following 24 or more hours of normal activity by the patient, the technician removes a tape from the monitor and places it in a scanner. After checking the quality of the recorded impulses on an electronic screen, the technician usually prints the information from the tape for analysis by a physician. Physicians use the output from the scanner to diagnose heart ailments, such as heart rhythm abnormalities or problems with [pacemakers](/source/pacemakers).

For a treadmill stress test, EKG technicians document the patient's medical history, explain the procedure, connect the patient to an EKG monitor, and obtain a baseline reading and resting blood pressure. Next, they monitor the heart's performance while the patient is walking on a treadmill, gradually increasing the treadmill's speed to observe the effect of increased exertion.

The position is generally unlicensed and skills are learned on the job; however, two- and four-year training programs to learn advanced ECG technical skills are available at junior colleges and community colleges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edcc.edu/ekgtech/default.php |title=Edmonds community college EKG tech web site, cited as an example of a community college EKG tech course |access-date=2007-08-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928084037/http://www.edcc.edu/ekgtech/default.php |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}</ref>
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190427180949/http://www.cci-online.org/ Cardiovascular Credentialing International]

Category:Cardiac electrophysiology
Category:Allied health professions
Category:Technicians
Category:Cardiology
Category:Medical imaging

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cardiovascular technologist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiovascular_technologist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiovascular_technologist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.