Heart screening and imaging

Our advanced Cardiac Catheterization Lab offers a range of diagnostic procedures and treatments. Cardiac catheterization is a medical sub-specialty dedicated to using minimally invasive techniques with imaging guidance. Through heart catheterization, or cath exams, doctors can evaluate the functionality of a patient's heart valves.

As part of our complete heart care services, our heart specialists conduct heart screening and imaging in our Electrophysiology Laboratory. These enable us to understand heart arrhythmias (abnormal or irregular heart rhythms).

Using advanced technology in this lab, we perform a wide range of other procedures, including:

• Atrial and ventricular pacing/recording: This diagnostic test records how effectively the upper and lower chambers of the heart are working.
• Atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction recordings: This test studies the electrical continuity between the atria and ventricles.
• Cardiac 3D mapping: This procedure involves an electrically sensitive catheter (thin flexible tube), which maps electrical activity in the heart chambers. Cardiac 3D mapping is used to diagnose the origins of heart arrhythmias.
• Cardiac implants: To manage heart rhythm disorders, a pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator may be implanted. We offer permanent and temporary pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators.
• EP studies: These tests are used to assess the heart's electrical system and activity. Doctors use catheters and wire electrodes to measure electrical activity within the heart to diagnose heart arrhythmias.
• Sinus node recovery time assessment: This test is used to detect sick sinus syndrome (SSS), in which the heart cannot keep the heart rate you need. This can cause an irregular heartbeat.
• His bundle activity recordings: This technique involves a bipolar or multipolar catheter used for the routine recording of the heart's His bundle activity. (This is a portion of the heart's electrical system.)

Noninvasive ultrasounds use ultrasound waves to detect disease in the veins and arteries. Our laboratory is accredited by the American College of Radiology with a dedicated team of sonographers who are nationally registered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers. Together, we commonly perform lower and upper extremity venous and arterial ultrasounds, carotid ultrasounds and other specialized exams.

Nuclear medicine involves the use of tiny radioactive particles, called isotopes, to diagnose a wide variety of disorders. The Nuclear Medicine Department at our hospital has advanced single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) cameras. These more accurately localize abnormalities. We also use sophisticated computers to analyze and visualize the data.

Our cardiac specialists use this lab for cardiac stress testing. With the aid of cardiac stress tests, our team can evaluate a variety of cardiac disorders and conditions, including:

• Ejection fraction (EF): the amount of blood that is pumped out with each contraction
• Infarction: blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle
• Ischemia: reduced blood flow to the heart muscle
• Wall motility: the heart's pumping capacity

Interventional radiology uses a multifunctional imaging system for both diagnostic and interventional procedures.

Specialized interventional radiology procedures we perform include:

• Carotid artery stenting
• CT-guided biopsies and drainages
• Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA)