Rheography

Rheography is a diagnostic measure aimed at checking the quality of blood flow both in individual organs or systems, and in the body as a whole. The method is based on the registration of a graphic type, which became possible thanks to a special device – a rheograph. He is responsible for measuring the electrical conductivity of a particular organ, which is provided by pulsed blood current oscillations.

The technique has been in consistently high demand for many years due to the fact that the developers correctly played on the main feature of blood – high electrical conductivity. All physical bases of state measurement are based on systolic and diastolic contraction of the heart muscle. As soon as blood flows into the selected organ, its electrical conductivity will increase significantly. And at the stage of relaxation of the heart, the level of conduction decreases significantly. Given such indications, it turns out to derive a curve of pulse fluctuations, which in the future will become the foundation for making a diagnosis. The main stages of carrying out in medical terminology presented below are called rheogram.

The essence of the technique

Regardless of whether the tetrapolar or integral variation of the state assessment is involved, the method will still remain non-invasive. This means that the patient will not experience pain during the examination. It is not for nothing that in emergency situations testing is prescribed even for children.

The study of the vessels of the brain does not involve damage to the skin, and the current passed through the skin is so small in power that a person will not feel it. In addition to the absence of tangible damage to the body, rheography can boast of increased sensitivity. Due to this, testing helps to identify deviations not only in terms of the functioning of blood flow in a group of organs, but also in one of them. This is especially true in dentistry.

To assess the health of the body from the inside, a special electric current generator is used, which is called a rheograph. It comes with a attachment that allows you to quickly convert incoming information into graphical information for easy reading of the results.

The rheogram of the lower extremities itself is recorded due to the work of metal electrodes, which the laboratory assistant previously applies to potentially unhealthy areas. In order to reduce the risks of distorting the quality of information when collecting continuously incoming computer analysis of data, fabric pads are applied in advance between the electrodes and the skin of the victim. They are pre-moistened in sodium chloride, which is designed to improve contact. Also, the nurse, before applying the electrode, must wipe the patient’s skin with an alcohol solution, which will be the key to removing fatty layers.

What will the procedure show?

Having figured out what the essence of the diagnostic method is, people begin to be interested in how you can independently decipher the result obtained by hand. But without proper knowledge, this is quite problematic, because for the majority, the rheogram is some kind of mathematical graph, and the impedance of biological tissues does not say anything at all.

The basis of the picture is based on two aspects:

• sinusoids, which are presented as a steep rise, which describes arterial blood flow;
• smooth descent, which is a reflection of the venous blood flow.

But not only this makes it possible to assess the state of the vascular network in terms of volumes and other features of the incoming blood. It will be necessary to take into account many curves, to use additional calculations, where the Kedrov formula plays an important role.

The diagnostician will necessarily take into account the regularity of the adjusted curve, which implies the similarity between several curves. It also takes into account the shape, the number of secondary curves that are in the descending phase.

For example, it is worth analyzing the indicators characteristic of vegetovascular dystonia or arrhythmia. The presented ailments will be indicated by adjacent curves with different shapes.

Next, a special index is calculated, which must fit into the average statistical interval. Falling out of it threatens suspicion of serious pathologies.

Separately, the following values ​​uXNUMXbuXNUMXbare helping to determine diseases:

• level of venous outflow;
• amplitude-frequency indicator;
• measurements of the time interval for the propagation of a pulse wave.

An experienced doctor should take into account various functional tests in order to get a detailed picture of what is happening.

Central rheography

Varieties of rheography cover a huge number of proposals. But the central variation is consistently in high demand, as it is aimed at an accurate assessment of the state of the heart.

Manipulation relies on the study of blood flow coming from the pulmonary artery and aorta. It is these two large vessels that allow you to get acquainted in detail with the health of the heart region.

Having adopted the blood filling of the lung and right ventricle, it turns out to evaluate the contractile function of the heart muscle.

Normal indicators in clinical practice are as follows:

• gentle ascending part;
• round top with a small indentation;
• round top with a wave;
• smooth descent.

Carrying out central rheography involves the division of rheograms into certain types, depending on the data obtained:

• hypervolemic;
• hypovolemic;
• hypertensive.

The first version indicates an increased volume of incoming blood. The main indicators indicating such a deviation cover a high and at the same time sharp curve with a steep part of the descent.

The hypovolemic layout is no less dangerous, but not all patients know what it is.

The scenario provides for a reduced volume of blood flow, which can be seen on visualization due to:

• decreasing the height of the curve;
• serifs on the ascending part;
• flat top;
• gentle descending parts.

No less dangerous are the biophysical manifestations of the hypertensive subspecies. This will indicate increased pressure recorded in the lungs. In the image, it will be possible to recognize deviations due to the steep rise of the curve, as well as a gentle descent and a round top.

Rheography for vessels and brain

At registration, you will definitely need to announce what type of diagnostics is required: to study the brain or blood vessels. The latter type is briefly called rheovasography. The technique helps to understand the health of blood vessels in the lower and upper extremities.

Most often, diagnostics are carried out for: brushes; hips; shins; shoulders; forearm; stop.

Some ordinary people are interested in the question of what kind of current is used for the reography of the limbs, but there is no difference whether it is the hands or the brain. The rest of the scheme of the preparatory stage also remains identical, and also provides for the active participation of the nurse.

To obtain a more accurate picture of what is happening, a lot of electrodes are used, one of which is necessarily superimposed at the beginning of the area under study, and the second at the end. So, the lower leg is studied from the ankle joint to the popliteal fossa.

The transcript book says that the normal research parameters are:

• steep ascending part;
• gentle descent with the minimum allowable waves;
• round crown.

If something indicates a deviation from the specified norm, then this may serve as a reason for exhibiting the most common disease called obliterating endarteritis. People call it the smoker’s foot. The reason for the sharp deterioration in well-being lies in the defeat of the arteries of the lower leg and foot. But what are its manifestations on the graphical result of the analysis? We are talking about a decrease in the heights of the curves, as well as compaction of the peaks and the complete absence of auxiliary waves.

Rheography will tell about many other problems associated with peripheral vessels. It can be:

• loss of tone;
• loss of elasticity;
• occlusion;
• narrowing of the lumen.

The effectiveness of the study is increased if a duet of functional tests is additionally used. The first involves the preliminary intake of nitroglycerin. It usually acts as a vasodilator. But if the blood channels are damaged, then no increase in size will be noticed.

The second test is based on the need to first do a few physical exercises. He will tell you the state of the vertebral arteries.

A similar principle is used to assess the TMJ, as well as other relatively small study areas. The chest area also lends itself to examination. Even the brain can be checked with a rheograph. Experience based on conducting low doses of current helps to identify common cerebral vascular lesions.

He will also act as evidence of increased intracranial pressure, which is especially important in the diagnosis of dropsy in newborns. You can not do without a technique for monitoring recovery after a recent stroke.

Headaches of unknown etiology, dizziness for no reason, and tinnitus are also indications for testing. Even oncology clinics send their patients to take this test in order to exclude the development of a tumor that compresses blood vessels.

Depending on the characteristics of each particular ward, the method of examination will be chosen, whether it is taking into account the parameters according to Tishchenko, or the standard approach. With the results obtained, the patient returns to the attending physician so that he makes an accurate diagnosis, and then selects the optimal course of treatment.