Cardiovascular Clinical Physiology Stress Testing Laboratory
Director: Ernest V. Gervino, ScD, FACSM
Appointments: 617-667-8027
Uses Stress Testing as an Outcome Measurement
The laboratory, established in 1981, has a national and international reputation as a key lab for varied research projects that use stress testing as an outcome measurement. It performs tests for more than 7,250 patients per year. The multidisciplinary staff is comprised of physicians, physiologists and technologists.
Determines Cause, Risk Assessment and Outlook
Patients are referred to the lab to determine the cause, risk assessment and outlook associated with various forms of heart disease such as ischemic syndrome, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia and valvular heart disease.
Patients typically include those with:
- Chest pain syndrome
- Unexplained shortness of breath
- Unexplained arm, neck, back or jaw discomfort
- Fatigue or weakness
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
- Fainting episodes
Tests
The lab features state-of-the-art equipment to perform exercise treadmill, cycle and pharmacologic tests including:
- Exercise testing without imaging
- Nuclear perfusion (blood flow within the heart)
- Echocardiography / wall motion or gradient to assess valve function or blood flow to the heart
- Pharmacologic or pacing stress tests are available for patients who are unable to perform functional stress tests
- Cardiopulmonary testing – metabolic (oxygen consumption) and oxygen saturation testing in conjunction with select stress testing to determine cardiac function
- T-wave alternan, a computer-based program that allows the clinician to detect patients at risk for sudden cardiac death syndrome
