Tests

The tests most commonly used in Dr Dawkins’s practice: what each one shows, when it is recommended, and what to expect.

Ultrasound assessment of the heart, transthoracic and transoesophageal. Used in nearly every cardiology consultation and to guide complex procedures.

A quick, painless recording of the heart’s electrical activity, the most commonly used cardiac test.

Holter monitors, patch monitors and implantable loop recorders for capturing intermittent rhythm problems.

Combined exercise (or pharmacological) stress test with ultrasound imaging for coronary disease, valve disease and breathlessness.

A radiation-free, detailed scan of the heart muscle, valves and great vessels: the gold standard for cardiomyopathy and many other conditions.

A non-invasive scan of the coronary arteries, also used to plan transcatheter valve procedures.