To Improve The Lives We Touch

Cardiopulmonary & Diagnostic and Treatment

Cardiopulmonary Diagnostic and Treatment

Scope of Services

  • Acute and intermediate cardiopulmonary
  • Diagnosis of respiratory disorders
  • Emergency care/trauma
  • Adult and pediatric care
  • Therapeutic advances
  • All levels of pulmonary function testing including plethysmography and diffusion studies
  • Cardiac clinic procedures, such as EKG and treadmill testing
  • Patient and family education
Spanish Peaks Family Clinic in Walsenburg Colorado

Department Highlights

  • Full Service Cardiopulmonary
    • EKG
    • Holter Monitor
    • Event Monitor
    • Stress Test
    • ABI
    • Pulmonary Function Test
  • All levels of PFT including Plethysmography & Diffusion
  • BiPAP/CPAP
  • Nebulizer Treatments
  • Pulse Oximetry
    • Overnight Pulse Oximetry
  • Incentive Spirometry
  • Peak Flow
Full Service Cardiopulmonary in Walsenburg Colorado

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ABI?

This test is done by measuring blood pressure at both ankles and in both arms while a person is at rest.

The ankle-brachial index (ABI) result is used to predict the severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

What is BiPAP/CPAP?

Bilevel positive airway pressure is a form of non-invasive mechanical pressure support ventilation that uses a time-cycled or flow-cycled change between two different applied levels of positive airway pressure.

Bilevel positive airway pressure is used when positive airway pressure is needed with the addition of pressure support. Common situations where positive airway pressure is indicated are those where taking a breath is difficult. These include pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and status asthmaticus.

BiPAP is different from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which applies a single level of positive airway pressure throughout the whole respiratory cycle and is used for different clinical conditions.

What is an EKG?

An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart. An EKG translates the heart's electrical activity into line tracings on paper.

The spikes and dips in the line tracings are called waves.

What is an Event Monitor?

This is a similar device to the Holter monitor although it is designed to wear for much longer time than the usual Holter monitor which enables it to detect less frequent abnormalities of the heart rhythm. The event is generally worn for a month and the patient is able to take monitor off and on themselves so they can shower. The event monitor requires the patient to be aware of their symptoms as it only records when the patient presses the record button.

The event monitor also requires s the patient to call in and send their heart recording. The event monitor can record four events at one time before the patient has to send in their recordings over the phone. The event recorder is brought back to SPRHC when the month is up.

What is a Holter?

A Holter monitor is a portable device used to record the electrical impulses generated through the heart's activity. It is able to produce a graph similar to the ECG or electrocardiogram which describes the rate, rhythm and the nature of a person's heart beat. The device will receive input from several electrodes (5) attached to the chest. The gadget can be worn by the patient and the difference of this type of device as against the normal ECG is the duration of time in which the heart activity is been monitored.

The Holter monitor is usually attached to a patient for a duration of 24-48 hours and during this time the patient is asked to adhere to his or her daily routine including normal sleep although excessive activities are not recommended. Following completion of the recording, the device should be brought back to SPRHC and they will be able to extract the recording and send a report to the Doctor which depicts the activities of the heart that took place during the monitored 24-48 hours.

What is Incentive Spirometry?

An incentive spirometer is a medical device used to help patients improve the functioning of their lungs. It is provided to patients who have had any surgery that might jeopardize respiratory function, particularly surgery to the lungs themselves, but also commonly to patients recovering from cardiac or other surgery involving extended time under anesthesia and prolonged in-bed recovery. The incentive spirometer is also issued for patients recovering from pneumonia or rib damage to help minimize the chance of fluid build-up in the lungs. It can be used as well by wind instrument players, who want to improve their air flow.

What is a Nebulizer Treatment?

A nebulizer is a medication delivery device used to administer medication in the form of a mist inhaled into the lungs. Nebulizers are commonly used for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases or disorders.

What is Overnight Pulse Oximetry?

Overnight Pulse Oximetry is a simple test using a small device with a finger probe that uses an infra-red light to measure the saturation levels. The probe is worn on the finger during the night while the patient sleeps and returned in the morning. The results will be uploaded from the device to a computer.

What is a Peak Flow?

The peak expiratory flow, also called peak expiratory flow rate is a person's maximum speed of expiration, as measured with a peak flow meter, a small, hand-held device used to monitor a person's ability to breathe out air. It measures the airflow through the bronchi and thus the degree of obstruction in the airways.

What is a Pulmonary Function Test?

Measures the amount of air the patient inhales and exhales, which can tell how well your lungs are working. Multiple levels of testing are available

What equipment?

The plethysmography test requires the use of a clear booth in which the pressure is increased or decreased. The patient breathes through a tube while the pressure changes. SPRHC uses the same model as used in a major Denver hospital. This is the only machine of its kind in Southern Colorado.

What is Pulse Oximetry?

Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive method for monitoring a person's oxygen level. In its most common application mode, a sensor device is placed on a thin part of the patient's body, usually a fingertip or earlobe, or in the case of an infant, across a foot.

What is a Stress Test?

The stress test is performed in our hopspital under the supervision of a Cardiologist. The stress test is a treadmill test in which the patient is hooked up to a special 12 lead EKG monitor, a blood pressure cuff and a pulse oximeter while they walk on a treadmill.

The patient walks at increasing speeds and incline on the treadmill while the Doctor watches for any abnormalities in the heart. The test continues until a target heart rate is reached o the patient has symptoms such as chest pain or dizziness.

Also, now available is a stress echocardiogram. Which consists of the same testing as a stress treadmill with the addition of an echocardiogram while the heart is still beating at the increased rate. A stress echocardiogram or stress echo uses ultrasound imaging to show how well your heart muscle is working to pump blood throughout your body.