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Patient Services Nuclear Imaging The results of this diagnostic test will help us evaluate the blood flow or "circulation" your heart receives from your coronary arteries. For the heart do its work, it must receive an adequate supply of blood and oxygen. The purpose of this procedure is to detect areas of the heart that may be receiving inadequate circulation to further identify patients who may be at risk for heart attack. The medication that enables us to image the heart is called Cardiolite. It contains a very small amount of a radioactive tracer. The radiation exposure that you will receive is comparable to other standard x-ray procedures. Cardiolite will not make you feel any different that you do normally. The Cardiolite will be given through an IV that will be started at the beginning of your test. As it flows through the blood stream, it is carried to the heart where it is absorbed by the muscle of the heart. Our nuclear camera detects the radioactive tracer and produces detailed information about the condition and functioning of your heart and coronary arteries. The entire procedure will take 3-4 hours of your time. This study requires 2 sets of pictures to be taken of your heart: one set will be taken while you are at rest and a second set will be taken after "stress". The pictures will be developed and prepared for your doctor's interpretation a the end of each workday. If your test results are found to be abnormal, your doctor may recommend additional tests that will help him or her determine the cause of the abnormal test result. Exercise Stress Testing and Stress Echocardiography
Cardiac and Vascular Ultrasound Arrhythmia Monitoring
Interventional Cardiology If it is suspected that a patient has blockage in the arteries around the heart, our physicians may determine that the best evaluation would be to directly look at the arteries by way of angiography (also known as catheterization). Angiography involves putting dye into the arteries themselves and simultaneously evaluating them by X-ray. If a blockage is found our doctors are specially trained to offer treatments that can re-open blocked vessels such as PTCA (balloon dilation) and/or stent implantation. These treatments may eliminate the need for open-heart surgery.
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We offer state-of-the-art computer and imaging equipment and a staff
that is highly trained and experienced in the technology of nuclear
medicine. This includes both stress and adenison cardiolites.
Many
patients develop chest pain when they are exerting themselves doing
such things as aerobic exercise, lawn work, climbing stairs, etc.
When this is the case the first approach for detecting blockage
in the arteries to the heart is a Treadmill Stress Test. This
test involves having a patient walk on a treadmill while their blood
pressure, heart rate and EKG are continuously monitored by trained
personnel. Sometimes it is necessary to perform an ultrasound
before and after the patient walks on the treadmill in order to
actually see the walls of the heart. These tests allow the
doctor to evaluate the heart's response to exercise and correlate
any symptoms the patient is having.
Ultrasound
is the best technology available to evaluate many of the problems
seen in a cardiology practice. We can scan the heart, carotid arteries,
vessels in the arms and legs, and abdominal aorta right here at
our clinic. This test gives us information on heart size, heart
function, and information on the valves of the heart. We are also
able to evaluate the carotid and peripheral arteries to assess plaque
build-up and restriction of blood flow. Venous ultrasound is utilized
to assess blood clots in the lower extremities. Ultrasound of the
Aorta can also be used to evaluate the patient for aortic aneurysms
and restriction of blood flow to the kidneys.
Some
patients experience symptoms that indicate to the doctor that you
may have a heart rhythm that is not normal. An abnormal heart
rhythm is called an arrhythmia. The heart beat is initiated
by a small electrical impulse generated by specialized cells within
the heart itself. Occasionally this 'generator' will misfire
and cause the heartbeat to become irregular or erratic. Patients
may feel what they describe as "palpitations" or a fluttering
in their chest which could indicate the presence of an arrhythmia
(abnormal rhythm). Your doctor may order an EKG, 24-hour Holter
Monitor or an event recorder to evaluate the presence and type of
arrhythmia you may have.