non-invasive heart testing:

Did you know . . .
. . . if you're a kid, your heart is about the same size as your fist, and if you're an adult, it's about the size as two fists.

Electrocardiology

This test determines how well the electrical system of your heart works. Twelve pads are placed on your chest, shoulders and legs, to measure the electrical activity of your heart—which is viewed on a monitor. The impulses of your heart are then recorded on a graph paper and sent to your doctor. This test is painless and involves no risk.

Primarily used to detect abnormal heart beats, a 24-hour Holter monitoring test works like a continuous electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) and records your heartbeats over a 24 hour period. It can also be used to help your doctor determine how well your heart medicines are working. The Holter monitor has various leads that will be attached on your chest. You will be shown how to wear the monitor on a belt around your waist. While you are wearing the monitor, you will have to write down what activities you are doing and how you are feeling at the time.

Patient-activated, trans-telephonic, cardiac event monitoring is an economical, diagnostic tool, which allows patients to record irregular heartbeats or limited blood flow to the heart whenever and wherever they happen with the use of a miniature transmitter. Patients experiencing fleeting symptoms including angina, palpitations or unexplained dizziness have the capability of correlating these symptoms with their EKG's at the time they occur. Patients can then transmit their EKG via telephone to cardiac technicians at Queen's Heart.

Impedance Cardiography (ICG) uses 4 special sensors placed on the neck and chest to measure how well blood is flowing. Electrical current will take the path of least resistance which is typically fluid, and in this case blood that is in the aorta. Your Doctor will be able to calculate how well your heart is working and how much resistance there is in the blood vessels with each heart beat.

Echocardiogram

Sometimes called Echocardiography or a Cardiac Ultrasound, this test uses sound waves to produce real-time images of the size, shape, movement, and blood flow of your heart. A special gel which is used to help direct the sound waves back to the sound head will be placed on your chest. The sound head is then moved over your chest to look at different areas of your heart. The machine will also allow you to hear your heart beat at times. This test is painless and involves no risk.

For this test, images of the cardiac structure and function are obtained from a small ultrasound transducer mounted on a long flexible tube placed in the throat of a mildly sedated patient. The transducer is positioned in the esophagus just behind the heart allowing for improved visualization of heart structures, specifically, the atria, valves, ascending and descending aorta.

A Carotid Duplex Scan, also know as a Carotid Ultrasound, uses sound waves to produce images of how well and how much blood is flowing through your carotid and vertebral arteries which supply blood to your head and brain. The images are much like a movie and allow your doctor to see and hear the blood flow and determine if there are any blockages or narrowings which may reduce blood flow to your head and brain.

For Peripheral Vascular Studies, blood pressures are taken at four different levels along each leg to determine functional capacity of the peripheral arteries. Ultrasound is then used to produce images of the arteries distal to inguinal ligament. Dynamic blood flow can be seen in color and also heard, allowing identification of thrombus or leaking of venous valves.

Stress Testing

A treadmill stress test is used to study how your heart responds to exercise. During exercise your heart will beat faster to provide oxygen rich blood and nutrients to working muscles. The increased work during exercise is useful for determining the blood supply to your heart. This test is useful for determining the onset of chest pain, arrhythmias, and evaluates how well your heart works during physical activitiy.

This test is an established measure of exercise capacity in adults and children with chronic cardiac disease. The object of this test is to walk quickly as you can, as far as possible for 6 minutes. The patient exerts themself by walking back and forth on a long flat surface (such as a hallway). The results of the test are helpful in setting up an exercise program that is designed to meet the patients specific needs.

This test combines the echocardiogram and treadmill stress test to evaluate cardiac function. Images of the cardiac structures and function are obtained using ultrasound when the patient is at rest, and then again immediately after exercise. These images are then digitized and compared side by side to look for changes in the heart wall function due to coronary artery disease.

For patients unable to walk on a treadmill or exercise long enough to reach a maximum heart rate, incremental doses of intravenous dobutamine are given. Dobutamine is a drug which increases how fast and how hard your heart pumps blood, and is given at evenly spaced doses over 12 minutes. During this time, images of your heart's structure and function are obtained using ultrasound (also known as an echocardiogram). These images are used to look for changes in wall function due to coronary artery disease.

A thallium stress test is also sometimes called a myocardial perfusion test. This test is used to determine: blood flow to your heart muscle, how much damage may have been caused by a recent heart attack, the effectiveness of a cardiac procedure you may have had done, cause of chest pain you may be having, or the level of exercise you can safely perform. There are two parts to this test. The first part is an exercise treadmill test used to increase heart rate and blood flow to the heart. Once you reach your maximum heart rate a small amount of Thallium is injected into your blood stream. The Thallium can be seen using a special camera as it moves through the vessels of your heart. This allows your doctor to determine if there are any areas of blockage and reduced blood flow to your heart muscle.

To make an appointment for non-invasive heart testing please call 808.547.4535 during our nomal office hours.

You will need a referral from your physician or cardiologist before making an appointment.