Procedures

Procedures

Office Procedures​

  • EKG— This test checks for problems with the electrical activity of your heart
  • ABI— This is a simple, reliable test for diagnosing peripheral artery disease in the legs
  • Echocardiogram— This 45-minute test is done to evaluate the pumping action of the heart and heart valves. An ultrasound probe is applied to the chest wall to use ultrasound waves to create a recording of the heart’s blood flow patterns.
  • Stress Echocardiogram— to check for heart function, blockages, valve heart diseases, and blood clots.
  • Carotid Ultrasound with Doppler— to check for blockages and cholesterol build-up and to check for risk and prevention of stroke.
  • Blood Pressure Monitoring— To check for blood pressure over 24 hours.
  • Laboratory— state of the art laboratory (next door) for all blood tests with immediate results.
  • Pulmonary Function Test— to evaluate shortness of breath.
  • Pacemaker and Defibrillator Checkups These devices are sometimes implanted in the body to keep the heart beating properly. Regular device checkups are required to ensure that normal heartbeat and rhythm are being maintained.
  • Holter monitor— A machine that continuously records the heart’s rhythms; usually worn for 24-48 hours. To evaluate palpitations and cardiac arrhythmia and irregular heartbeat.
  • Treadmill test— Test used for the possible diagnosis of heart disease that becomes unmasked by exposing the heart to the stress of exercise. This procedure usually takes about 45 minutes. You only need to wear comfortable clothing; you do not have to fast or restrict any medications.

Hospitals Procedures​

  • Nuclear stress test (cardio lite stress test, my view stress test)— A nuclear stress test is similar to a routine exercise stress test in that it follows EKG tracings, but it also provides pictures of your heart. Our nuclear technician will place an IV in your arm when you first arrive and inject a radioactive substance. You will then lie down on a special table under a camera that detects radioactive material and will create heart images. The next step of the test is where you exercise on a treadmill while we monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and heart rhythm. We will inject more radioactive substances when you reach your maximum heart rate. After the treadmill portion of the test, you will again lie down on the table where we will take more images of your heart. Test abnormalities may indicate blockages in one or more of the coronary arteries or the presence of an abnormal heart rhythm.

  • Nuclear persantine stress test— This test is for patients unable to exercise on the treadmill. A radioactive substance is injected into the bloodstream to allow our technologist to take pictures of your heart. The radioactive substance is in combination with a medication called Persantine. The test will determine if there is an area of your heart that is not receiving enough blood.

  • Cardiac catheterization— is a procedure involving the insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart.
  • Angioplasty— Technique used to dilate an area of arterial blockage with the help of a catheter that has an inflatable small sausage-shaped balloon at its tip.
  • Coronary stents— Procedure for the treatment of coronary heart disease where a tube is placed in the coronary arteries that supply the heart.

Angiography

CT  Coronary Angiography

CT angiogram is to see if you have narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.  CT angiogram to diagnose any condition involving your blood vessels, including:  
  • Aneurysms, irregular bulges or widening of your blood vessels.
  • Atherosclerosis (fatty plaques that build inside blood vessels).
  • Coronary artery disease.
  • Pulmonary embolism.
Complete bilateral noninvasive physiologic studies of upper or lower extremity arteries–  Peripheral artery disease is present and what vessels are affected.   Duplex scan of extremity veins including responses to compression and other maneuvers; complete bilateral study- detect blood clots in the veins of the legs before they become dislodged and potentially pass to the lungs

Electrophysiology

  • Pacemaker Implantation— A small device placed under the skin of your chest or abdomen to help control abnormal heart rhythms.
  • Defibrillator Implantation— A treatment option for irregular heart rhythms.
  • Cardiac Ablation— Corrects heart rhythm problems by using catheters to correct structural problems in your heart that cause an arrhythmia