Heart Procedures
Cardiolite Scan is done to evaluate the blood flow to your heart muscle at stress and at rest.
Patient education:
- No caffeine or nicotine 24 hours prior to the test and nothing to eat or drink after midnight prior to the test.
- Do not take medications the morning of the test unless your doctor gave you other instructions regarding them.
- Upon registering at the front desk you will be taken to the Nuclear Lab where the test will be explained and on IV will be started.
- A small amount of a radioactive material called Cardiolite or Thallium will be injected through the IV. Both are safe medications that are naturally cleared from your body by natural processes. Images of your heart will be taken by a special camera, 30 minutes to 1 hour later.
- In order to take these images, you must lie flat on your back and hold perfectly still for about 16 minutes.
- Another injection of Cardiolite will be given during the stress portion of the test and images will again be taken 30 minutes to 1 hour later.
- Adenosine or Dobutamine – We will monitor your heart rhythm and your blood pressure. As the medication is given you may feel flushed, chest pressure, shortness of breath, or some other discomfort. If you have these side effects, they will go away when the medication is turned off. The second injection of Cardiolite will be given during the infusion. You will wait 30 minutes to 1 hour until the second set of pictures can be taken.
- Treadmill stresses – You will be exercised on the treadmill until an adequate heart rate is achieved at which time you will be given the second injection of Cardiolite. You will need to exercise 1 minute longer after the Cardiolite is given. You will then wait 30 minutes to 1 hour at which time the second set of images will be taken.
Carotid Ultrasound
This test involves placing an ultrasound probe on great vessels of the neck. It provides information on whether there is a narrowing in the carotid arteries, which supply blood to the brain. Narrowing of these arteries can be a common cause of stroke. It usually takes 30-45 minutes and is painless.
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram (echo) is a non-invasive test that involves placing an ultrasound probe on various positions of the chest. It provides information about heart muscle function, valves and pressures in the heart for your doctor. It takes approximately one hour and is painless.
Dobutamine Echocardiography: This is an echo test that helps determine the presence or absence of coronary artery disease in the heart. An intravenous medication is infused while images are taken. The medicine increases the heart rate, which allows your doctor to assess heart muscle function. The test takes 1 to 1½ hours.
Exercise Echocardiography: An exercise echo is a test that combines an ultrasound study of the heart with an exercise test. The test allows doctors to learn how the heart functions when it is made to work harder. The exercise echo is especially useful in diagnosing coronary artery disease.
- Do not eat or drink for 3 hours prior to the test.
- If you are currently taking medications check with your doctor.
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
The ECG is a non-invasive test that records the electrical activity generated by the heart. This electrical activity is recorded from your body surface (limbs and chest) by 10 small pads placed on your skin. The test takes 5-10 minutes to complete and yields information about the heart rhythm and rate, thickness of the heart muscle and chamber enlargement, presence of old or ongoing heart attack, or evidence of impaired blood supply.
Exercise Stress Test
The exercise stress test (treadmill) allows doctors to record an ECG during the stress exercise. It can help bring on arrhythmias that may not occur during a resting ECG.
Holter Monitoring
Holter monitoring is a continuous recording of the ECG, usually for 24 hours, while the patient goes about his or her usual daily activities. The recorder is small and portable, and can be worn on a strap over the shoulder or around the waist. The test is useful for detecting arrhythmias that may not appear during a resting ECG at the doctor’s office.
Pacemaker Monitoring
If you have a pacemaker, it’s important that you have routine follow-up visits with your doctor or clinic. You pacemaker may also be check with telephone monitoring.
Enhanced External Counterpulsation(EECP)
EECP treatment is a non-invasive outpatient treatment that may relieve or eliminate angina. The term Enhanced External Counterpulsation describes what happens during treatment. EECP treatment is “External” because it happens outside of the body and doesn’t require surgery or other invasive procedures. “Enhanced” refers to the equipment that has evolved over decades of research and development to become the state-of-the-art treatment delivery system. Counterpulsation occurs between heartbeats. EECP system pumps when the heart is resting and relieves pressure just before the heart beats. Counterpulsation increases blood flow to the heart muscle, decreases the heart’s workload, and creates greater oxygen supply while lowering oxygen demand.