ABSTRACT
While history-taking and examination is the start of all diagnoses, cardiac investigations are required in most cases in order to reach an exact diagnosis, formulate a correct treatment pattern and indicate a prognosis. The ECG and cardiac X-ray can be performed by the GP, but all other tests are normally carried out in hospital. Non-invasive tests, eg echocardiography and exercise tests, are generally carried out in district general hospitals, and invasive tests, eg cardiac catheterisation, are usually performed in teaching hospitals.
