Cardiac Testing

The arterial duplex test is used to determine the circulation in the arteries. The procedure evaluates arteries without blockages as well as those arteries that are blocked and have been bypassed with a graft. Examination of the bypass grafts enables the physician to prevent future blockages and possible limb loss from lack of circulation.

Calcium Scoring uses computed tomography (CT) to check for the buildup of calcium and plaque on the walls of heart arteries. This test checks for heart disease in an early stage and helps determine its severity.

This test determines if there is blockage within the coronary arteries. A catheterization is a non-surgical diagnostic test allows your doctor to see inside your coronary (heart) arteries. While taking X-ray pictures, your doctor will guide a small tube called a catheter inside an artery to the opening of the coronary arteries and inject an X-ray dye that highlights narrowed areas.

Cardiac CT Angiography uses an intravenous iodine dye and a CT scan to image the coronary arteries. This test is used to diagnose coronary artery disease.

A stress test measures blood flow to the heart at rest and during stress on the heart with exercise. A nuclear stress test is used to diagnose heart problems or to determine treatment if a heart condition has already been diagnosed. Both tests are conducted with heart stimulation, either by exercise on a treadmill or clinically. Electrodes are attached to the chest, legs and arms and are then connected by wires to an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) machine. The electrocardiogram records the electrical signals from the heartbeats. During a nuclear stress test, a dye is injected into the bloodstream and travels to your heart. A special scanner is then used to create images of the heart muscle to detect areas of inadequate blood flow.

Carotid duplex is an ultrasound that determines whether plaque or other matter is blocking blood flow in the carotid arteries. Carotid duplex evaluations of the arteries in the neck are the most accurate test available to determine if a patient has carotid artery disease. Plaque buildup in the carotid artery can break up into small particles and the force of blood flow can send these particles into smaller vessels in the brain which can cause a stroke. Carotid duplex uses ultrasound technology to image and record the appearance and the amount of arterial blockage within the carotid arteries. This information is critical to the physician to determine the best course of treatment for a patient.

EP Studies are used to determine what is causing arrhythmias by recording the path of the heart’s electrical signals.

The dialysis graft surveillance procedure is painless and requires no preparation. The test provides detailed images of the dialysis access grafts in the arms of patients receiving dialysis treatments. These access devices can deteriorate due to extended dialysis treatments, and this vascular test can determine if the graft is potentially closing and requires replacement.

Dobutamine stress echo is a non-invasive ultrasound test used to visualize the heart in motion. Your doctor will place a transducer on your chest which emits harmless sound waves to your heart. These sound waves generate pictures of your heart in motion and are displayed on an ultrasound machine connected to the transducer. Your doctor will examine the muscle movement of the heart (also called wall motion) while you are at rest. Then, your doctor will inject a medication called Dobutamine through an IV. This causes your heart to beat faster, simulating the effects exercise has on your heart. The doctor will then examine these pictures of your heart and compare them to the pictures taken while you were at rest.

An echocardiogram is a non-invasive test that uses ultrasound waves to visualize the heart. The test detects and evaluates heart size and function, abnormalities in heart wall motion and valve disorders. During the test, a small transducer is held against the chest. The transducer sends ultrasound waves that bounce off parts of the heart. A computer uses the information coming from the transducer to make an image of the heart. The image is displayed on a monitor, and it can be recorded on videotape or printed on paper.

An EKG is a painless, non-invasive test that records the electrical activity of the heart. This procedure provides vital information about heart rhythm. An EKG can also indicate if there is insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle or myocardial infarction (death to an area of the heart muscle). The technician will place about 10 electrode patches on your arms, legs and chest. These electrode patches are hooked up to an electrocardiography machine that displays the electrical activity of your heart.

An electrophysiology (EP) test or study looks at the conduction or electrical system of your heart by recording electrical activity from within the heart chambers. Thin wires are advanced into the heart through a small tube similar to cardiac catheterization to see if the irregular heartbeat can be reproduced. The EP study results can help your doctor diagnose your abnormal heart rhythm. The test also can be used to see how well your defibrillator (ICD) operates during your abnormal heart rhythm.

This wearable device records the heart rhythm over a period of 14 days to 30 days, while you go about your usual daily activities. When you feel symptoms, you press a record button and the event monitor records and stores up to five events of your heart's electrical activity. The event recorder is about the size of a pager. You can clip it to a belt, your pants, or place it in your pocket. Two electrodes (sticky patches) are worn on your chest. A wire attaches the electrodes to the event recorder. The event recorder is worn day and night, and continuously scans your heart's electrical activity.

This procedure uses ultrasound and a Doppler to evaluate the blood flow of the veins in the liver. This procedure may take up to two hours to complete and requires fasting.

A 24-hour Holter monitor is a small device that is usually worn for one to three days and continuously records the heart’s beating. This non-invasive cardiac test helps your doctor diagnose and treat abnormal heart rhythms. The Holter monitor is worn over a 24-hour period while the patient does all of his/her normal activities. Small, sticky patches called electrodes are attached to the chest. Wires travel from the electrodes to a small portable box worn on the belt or shoulder strap. The box records and stores continuous heart rhythm data transmitted by the electrodes.

This vascular test is used to assess the circulation in the arms or legs. The examination does not use ultrasound but can determine if circulation is affected by blockages. This test can give the physician information needed to determine if the patient may need further procedures. The test consists of utilizing specialized blood pressure cuffs and doppler probes to measure blood pressures in the affected areas of the body.

Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a non-invasive test that gives information similar to that of a CT without using X-rays. It is used to diagnose peripheral arterial disease.

Myocardial biopsy is usually performed to evaluate for the presence of rejection after heart transplant, or to diagnose cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), such as myocarditis which is inflammation of the heart muscle. Myocardial biopsy is an invasive diagnostic test using a catheter with a grasping device on the end. The catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in your neck or groin, and threaded to the right ventricle of your heart. There the grasping device (called a bioptome) obtains a small piece of heart muscle, about the size of the head of a pin.

This test measures plaque build-up (atherosclerosis) in the peripheral arteries—meaning the arteries to the lower abdomen, kidneys, arms, legs and feet. This invasive diagnostic test uses a catheter to inject dye (contrast medium) into peripheral arteries. X-rays are taken of the dye within the arteries, allowing clear visualization of the blood flow inside the artery.