By rdnewsNOW staff

Specialized cardiac bike arrives at Red Deer Regional Hospital

Sep 26, 2018 | 2:20 PM

A specialized piece of equipment purchased with the proceeds from a cardiac awareness event held earlier this year has arrived at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.

The GE eBike is a large recumbent bike which uses hydraulics to better position patients during stress testing, and even allows physicians to use echocardiography to gather an image of the heart as the patient exercises.

The bike, which is valued at just under $13,000, was purchased with the proceeds from February’s Time is Muscle event and is a significant improvement over the department’s current bike, explains George Belanger, Cardiology Department Manager.

“(The eBike) is going to be used in conjunction with our ultrasound machines, so we will be taking ultrasound imaging while the patient exercises,” says Belanger, noting that the department’s current bike could only be used for basic stress tests. “It’s a different exam, looking at different things.”

Patients currently undergo their stress test on the department’s stationary bike or on a treadmill. Attempting to take an echocardiogram while a patient is running or walking on a treadmill is less than ideal, Belanger explains.

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“And it typically doesn’t result in a good image,” he says. “With this one, they are stationary, so we can actually position the monitor on the left which gives us a clear picture of the heart.”

In instances where the patient is unable to use a bike or treadmill, Cardiology conducts a medical stress test. Using a drug called dobutamine, the physician is able to elicit a stress response while the patient lays in a bed. 

“We’ve been doing those intermittently but this will be a nicer option for folks, in that they just have to pedal on the bike over a short period of time instead of taking medication,” says George.

The eBike is also safer. The risk of injury to the patient or staff members is reduced because the eBike uses guide rails and straps to ensure the patient remains on the bed throughout the duration of the test.

“(The patient) can achieve a peak state of exercise, as much as we need them to, while laying – which is nice.”

Last year’s addition of the Epiq 7 Ultrasound Machine (TEE Machine) and the hiring of a sonographer has allowed the department to complete transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms. The arrival of the eBike is another step towards providing a more “robust” cardiology service, Belanger says.

“It’s just another way for us to properly diagnose heart disease and heart dysfunction. It’s just one more piece of the puzzle in our attempt to provide a holistic and fully-developed cardiac program within the zone.”

It also means cardiology patients will be able to stay closer to home, he adds.

“It’s one less thing they need to travel to the city centres for. It provides a service at their doorstep.”

(Patrick Teskey – Red Deer Regional Health Foundation)