Our Cardiac Services

Committed to our quality standards and mission statement, we strive to provide our patients with extensive all-round heart and vascular testing for prevention and treatment of such disorders. Our protocols for testing include, but not limited to, heart rhythm testing (electrocardiography and Holter monitor), sonography (echocardiography), heart stress test (Stress Echo), heart invasive testing (cardiac catheterization) and vascular anatomical and functional evaluation (Vascular Ultrasound, Ankle Brachial Index and peripheral angiography).

To ensure the highest standards in excellence testing, we have been granted the prestigious accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) as an emblem of established and continued principles.

An “Echo” is an ultrasound of the heart that provides a wealth of helpful clinical information, including the size and shape of the heart (chamber size quantification), pump function and capacity, and the location and extent of any heart tissue damage. It’s also an essential tool for evaluating heart valves. It is a non-invasive test and has no known risks or side effects.

Time: 20 minutes

Preparation for the test: None

A “Stress Echo” is an ultrasound of your heart at rest compared to that of your heart after exertion. It allows the physician to evaluate how well your heart functions when it is pushed to work harder.

What happens during the test?
Several adhesive electrodes will be placed on your chest to record the electrical activity of your heart during exercise (this is an EKG). First, you will have a “resting” echo performed (this is a ultrasound of your heart). Once that has been completed, you will walk on the treadmill, which increases in speed and inclination every 3 minutes. Once you have reached your target heart rate, the treadmill will be stopped and the “stress” echo will be performed.

Time: 35-45 minutes

Preparation for the test:

DO NOT:

  • Do not eat a heavy meal at least 4 hours before the test. A light meal 2 hours before the test is okay.
  • Do not consume alcohol at least 12 hours before the test.
  • Do not use lotions, oil, etc. on your test day. The EKG patches do not stick well to the skin moisturizers. Deodorant is okay to use.
  • Do not take beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers at least 12 hours before the test. You will stop these the afternoon before the test and resume the usual dose.
  • Common Beta-Blockers: Acebutolol, Atenolol, Betapace, Coreg, Corgard, Corzide, Inderalm Inderide, Innopran, Levatol, Lopressor, Metoprolol, Nadolol, Normodyne, Pindolol, Propranolol, Sectral, Sotalol, Tenoretic, Tenormin, Timolol, Toprol, Trandate, Zebeta.
  • Common Calcium Channel Blockers: Calan, Cardene, Cardizem, Cartia, Covera, Dilacor, Diltiazem, Dynacirc, Isoptin, Tarka, Tiazac, Verapamil, Verelan.

Do:

  • Allow approximately 60 minutes for the test.
  • Wear comfortable clothing including walking or running shoes.

Cardiac catheterization (heart cath) is the insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart through the femoral artery (groin) or the radial artery (wrist). This is done both for diagnostic and interventional purposes i.e. to open up blockages that cause angina and/or heart attacks.

 Time: 60-120 minutes

Preparation for the test:

  • Do not eat or drink after midnight the night before the test.
  • Do not consume alcohol at least 12 hours before the test.
  • Do not use lotions, oil, etc. on your test day. The ECG patches do not stick well to the skin moisturizers. Deodorant is okay to use.
  • Shower before the test.

Holter monitor is a type of portable heart monitor that is a small electrocardiogram (EKG) device worn in a pouch around the neck or waist. It keeps a record of the heart rhythm, typically over a 24-hour period, and the patient keeps a diary of activities and symptoms. The EKG recording is then correlated with the person’s activities and symptoms. This type of test is useful for identifying heart disturbances that are sporadic and not readily identified with a resting EKG.

 Time: Upto 24 hours

Preparation for the test: None