Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-7pm

Schedule this service through Central Scheduling at (937) 384-4510. The direct dial phone number for the Cardiopulmonary department is (937) 384-8709.

What Is It?
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to determine how well your lungs are working. It evaluates the ability of your lungs to move oxygen into the blood and to remove carbon dioxide from the blood. An ABG test uses a small sample of blood drawn from an artery. This test can be ordered by a doctor for patients experiencing shortness of breath or have other breathing complaints or conditions.

Hours: Mon-Fri: As Scheduled.

Schedule this service through Central Scheduling at (937) 384-4510. The direct dial phone number for the Cardiopulmonary department is (937) 384-8709.

What Is It?
A bronchoscopy is an examination that allows a doctor to see inside the airway. During bronchoscopy, an instrument called a bronchoscope is used to look at the throat, vocal cords, trachea, and lower bronchial airways.

Why is it Done?
Bronchoscopy may be done to:

• Identify problems that me be causing inflammation and bleeding
• Diagnose certain lung diseases or conditions by collecting mucus or lung tissue samples to be examined in a lab for specific abnormalities or infections (i.e. pneumonia, lung cancer)
• Remove foreign objects or thick mucus that may be blocking the airway

How is it Done?
During this procedure, you will lie on your back on a table with your shoulders and neck supported by a pillow. The lights in the room are usually dimmed so the doctor can see the image on the video monitor clearly. A doctor, nurse and respiratory therapist will be present during the bronchoscopy.

A small intravenous (IV) needle will be inserted into a vein in one of your arms to give you a sedative medication. This medication reduces discomfort and will make you feel relaxed. You will remain awaked but sleepy or groggy during the procedure.

Before the procedure, a respiratory therapist will give you a breathing treatment to numb your throat and mouth and to reduce the tendency to gag during the procedure. An anesthetic ointment will be used to numb your nasal passages.

The doctor gently and slowly inserts a thin bronchoscope through your nose or mouth and advances it to the vocal cords where more anesthetic solution is used to numb the vocal cords. The bronchoscope is passed through the vocal cords and into the lungs. Mucus or tissue samples will be collected through the scope which will be sent to the lab. The procedure usually takes between 30 to 60 minutes. A nurse will be checking you before, during and after the procedure.

Following the procedure, do not eat or drink anything for about 2 hours, until you are able to swallow without choking. After that, you may resume your normal diet, starting with sips of water. Someone will need to drive you home if you received an intravenous (IV) sedative. Your mouth may feel dry for several hours after the procedure and you may have a slight sore throat and some hoarseness for a few days.

Hours: Mon-Fri: 6:30am-10am

Schedule this service through Central Scheduling at (937) 384-4510. The direct dial phone number for the Cardiopulmonary department is (937) 384-8709.

What Is It?
Electrocardiography (ECG,EKG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. Exercise electrocardiography (cardiac stress test) is done during exercise to evaluate how the heart and blood pressure respond to the demands of physical activity.

The electrical signals produced by the heart can be detected through the skin by small foam discs called electrodes. These electrodes are attached to the skin on your chest which are connected to a machine that translates the electrical activity into tracings on paper. These tracings are reviewed and analyzed by a cardiologist for abnormalities.

When your heart is relaxed it may get enough blood through the openings in your coronary arteries, even if your arteries are clogged or narrowed. However, when your heart is under stress (such as during exercise), it requires more blood and oxygen and your narrowed arteries may not be able to supply it. If part of your heart is affected by poor blood flow, an electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) may show abnormalities, especially during exercise. A resting ECG/EKG is always done before a cardiac stress test because certain types of abnormalities in the electrical activity of the heart may make an exercise ECG/EKG more difficult to interpret.

Why is it Done?
A cardiac stress test is done to:

• Evaluate unexplained chest pain and determine its cause when coronary artery disease (CAD) is suspected.
• Determine the ability of the heart to tolerate exercise in people with known heart disease or in those who have had a heart attached or heart surgery.
• Identify abnormal heart rhythms when symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, or irregular heart beats during exercise or actitvity.
• Screen for CAD in a person without symptoms, expecially is the persone has risk factors for CAD (such as smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of heart disease.
• After heart surgery to see whether a blockage or narrowing of an artery has recurred, especially if chest pain (angina) or other symptoms have recurred.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of certain medications or other therapy for irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) or chest pain (angina).

How is it Done?
Exercise cardiography (cardiac stress test) is usually performed in an office, clinic, or a special hospital lab by a health care professional and a doctor. Results of the test are interpreted by a doctor, usually a cardiologist.

Areas on your chest where electrodes will be placed are shaved and cleaned to provide a good contact surface for the electrode discs. Several electrodes that contain a gel that conducts the electrical impulses from your heart are attached to your chest. The electrodes are then connected with long wires to an ECG machine, which will record your heart's electrical activity. A blood pressure cuff will be wrapped around your upper arm so that your blood pressure can be checked before, during and after the test. You will walk on a treadmill while being monitored by an ECG machine. The test is usually performed in a series of stages lasting 3 minutes. At the end of each stage, your blood pressure and ECG tracing is recorded. The treadmill will increase in speed and incline as each stage progresses. The test continues until you need to stop, until you reach your target heart rate (based on your age), until you begin to show symptoms of significant stress on your heart and lungs (such as fatigue, extreme shortness of breath, or angina), or until the ECG shows evidence of decreased blood flow to the heart muscle. The test may also be stopped if you develop serious irregular heart rhythms or if your blood pressure drops below your resting level. Following exercise, you will be asked to sit or lie down to rest while your ECG and blood pressure are continued to be monitored for about 5 minutes. The electrodes are then removed from your chest. The exercise portion of your test will take 15 to 20 minutes.

Additional Information/Other Options
Nuclear Imaging/Myoview Scans may be ordered by your doctor to be done in conjunction with the cardiac exercise test. Before the exercise portion of the test, a nuclear medicine technologist will insert a small intravenous (IV) in your arm or hand. During exercise, approximately one minute before the end of the test, the nuclear medicine technologist will inject a small amount of radioactive material in the IV. Two sets of nuclear images will be taking about 15 minutes each will be done following the exercise portion of the test. There are no side effects related to injected radioactive material. Results of the Nuclear imaging/Myoview scans will be interpreted by a doctor specializing in nuclear medicine and will be reported separately from the cardiac stress tests results.

Another option for people who can not walk well on a treadmill is a pharmacologic cardiac stress test (Adenosine Myoview stress test). Your doctor may order this test if you have difficulty walking for any length of time, walking up an incline, or experience shortness of breath with a limited amount of exercise.

How is it Done?
Before an Adenosine Myoview stress test, an small IV will be placed in your arm or hand and several electrodes will be placed on your chest. The electrodes will be connected to an ECG machine that translates the electrical activity of your heart onto paper. Adenosine will be injected slowly through the IV over 4 minutes. ECGs and blood pressures will be recorded every minute and monitored during the procedure. After 4 minutes the injection is stopped and ECGs and blood pressures are monitored and recorded for a few more minutes. This portion of the test usually takes less than 15 minutes to complete. During the 4 minute medication injection, a nuclear medicine technologist will administer an injection of a radioactive material (Myoview). Two sets of nuclear images will be done following the medication injection portion of the test.

During the medication injection you may experience some flushing, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or chest pressure. These side effects are common and do not indicate that there is a problem with your heart. Side effects caused by the medication injection are usually completely gone by approximately 2 to 4 minutes following the test. Each set of nuclear images will last about 15 minutes each.

Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-3pm

Schedule this service through Central Scheduling at (937) 384-4510. The direct dial phone number for the Cardiopulmonary department is (937) 384-8709.

What Is It?
Echocardiography (echo or echocardiogram) is a type of ultrasound test that uses high-pitched sound waves to produce an image of the heart. The sound wave are sent through a device called transducer and are reflected off the various structures of the heart. These echoes are converted into pictures of the heart that can be seen on a video monitor.

An echocardiogram is used to evaluate heart wall thickness and motion, as well as the structure and function of the heart valves. Echocardiography can also be used to estimate the amount of blood pumped out of your left ventricle with each heartbeat (ejection fraction).

Why is it Done?
Echocardiograms are done to help identify areas of poor blood flow in the heart, areas of heart muscle that are not contracting normally, previous injury to the heart muscle caused by impaired blood flow, or evidence of heart failure, especially in people with chest pain or a possible heart attack. In addition, echocardiography can detect a blood clot in the heart, and evaluate the heart valves for abnormalities.

How is it Done?
An echocardiogram is done while you are lying on your back or left side. A trained health care professional will apply some clear thin jelly to the middle of your chest. Then, with the help of a transducer attached to the end of a wand that leads to a machine with a video monitor, sound waves are transmitted through your chest wall to the echo machine which holds the information transmitted on a video tape or disc. An echocardiogram usually takes less than 30 minutes to complete and interpreted by a doctor, usually a cardiologist.

Hours: 7 Days a Week: 6:30am-7pm

Schedule this service through Central Scheduling at (937) 384-4510. The direct dial phone number for the Cardiopulmonary department is (937) 384-8709.

What Is It?
An electrocardiogram (also called an ECG or EKG) is a test that records the electrical activity of your heart through 10 small electrode patches attached to the skin of your chest, arms and legs. An EKG may be part of a complete physical exam or it may be used to further investigate symptoms related to heart problems.

EKGs are quick, safe, painless and inexpensive tests that are routinely performed if a heart condition is suspected. Your doctor uses the EKG to assess your heart rhythm, diagnose poor blood flow to the heart muscle, diagnose a heart attack, and evaluate certain other abnormalities of your heart.

Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm

Schedule this service through Central Scheduling at (937) 384-4510. The direct dial phone number for the Cardiopulmonary department is (937) 384-8709.

What Is It?
A Holter monitor or ambulatory EKG/ECG monitors the electrical activity of your heart while you go about your usual daily activities. A continuous 24-hour recording is much more likely to detect any abnormal heartbeats that occur with activities such as exercise, eating, emotional stress, bowel movements or even sleeping.

How It Is Done?
A small recording device is worn on a strap at your waist or over your shoulder. The electrical signals of your heart are picked up by 5 small pads (electrodes) attached to your chest which are connected to the recorder by wires. While wearing the Holter monitor, you will be asked to keep a diary of all your activities and symptoms. You will be asked to return to the hospital the next day (24 hrs later) to have the monitor removed. After the monitoring period, a health care professional or physician will compare the timing of your activities and symptoms with the recorded heart pattern.

Why It Is Done?
Holter monitoring is done to diagnose irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) that may or may not lead to health related problems. Many people have irregular heartbeats from time to time. The importance of irregular heartbeats depends on the type of pattern they produce, how often they occur, how long they last, and whether they occur at the same time you have symptoms. Because arrhythmias can occur irregularly, it may be difficult to record an arrhythmia while you are in the doctor's office. A standard EKG monitors only 40 to 50 heartbeats during the brief period you are attached to the machine. A holter monitor records about 100,000 heartbeats in 24 hours and is much more likely to detect a problem.

Hours: Mon-Fri: 7am-10am

Schedule this service through Central Scheduling at (937) 384-4510. The direct dial phone number for the Cardiopulmonary department is (937) 384-8709.

What Is It?
An Upright Tilt table test is a way to find out the cause of fainting spells or frequent episodes of dizziness and or near fainting spells. A health care professional will monitor your heart rate, heart rhythm and blood pressure for a period of time, usually 45 minutes or up to an hour, while you are standing upright. A physician, usually a cardiologist, will interpret the test and be available check on you during the test.

How It Is Done?
You will be asked to lie down on a padded table placing your feet on a foot board at the bottom of the table. A blood pressure monitor and heart monitor with 3 small pads (electrodes) will be attached to your chest. They will be used to monitor and record your blood pressure and heart rate every few minutes during the test. Straps or belts, similar to seat belts, will be loosely placed around your calves, waist or hips, and your chest. The table will be tilted to an upright or standing position and you will remain standing for the duration of the test. The test is completed either when a pre-determined length of time has past without fainting or when changes in blood pressure, heart rate or symptoms of fainting occur and persist. (In some cases actual fainting may occur.) The straps or belts are there to protect you from falling if fainting does occur. When the tilt portion of the test is completed, the table will be returned to the flat position and blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored for a few more minutes.

Hours: Mon-Fri: 6:45am-5pm

Schedule this service through Central Scheduling at (937) 384-4510. The direct dial phone number for the Cardiopulmonary department is (937) 384-8709.

What Is It?
Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT) evaluate how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, and how well your lungs add oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood.

How It Is Done?
Measurements are made while you are breathing through a mouthpiece while wearing nose clips. Different breathing exercises are done that make several measurements of your lung function. A respiratory therapist will be conducting the test and will explain each of the breathing exercises in great detail at the time of the test. Some of the breathing exercises can be tiring for some people. The test can take up to a little over an hour to complete. Your doctor should ask you not to take any medications for your breathing for at least 4 hours before the test. A doctor specializing in pulmonary medicine will interpret the findings of the test and a report will be sent to your doctor.

Why It Is Done?
Pulmonary Function tests can help diagnose lung diseases or conditions. They also may help your doctor determine which breathing medications that would benefit you the most and best help your doctor treat any lung diseases or conditions you may have.