Cardiac Stress Testing
This is a test that can be used to diagnose heart disease or estimate a person’s risk of future adverse cardiac events. This is an office-based procedure that involves walking on a treadmill while a tracing of your heart is monitored. If you are unable to walk, medications can be used to perform a pharmacologic stress test. This evaluates your heart’s ability to handle stress.
Nuclear Stress Testing
Often, images of the heart must be viewed to assess heart function under stress. We use a nuclear tracer and a special camera that follows flow of the tracer through heart muscle. The entire procedure is done in our office, in our state-of-the-art nuclear lab.
Please click here to view a brief description of Nuclear Stress Testing.
Echocardiography
This is an office-based procedure that uses an ultrasound probe, placed on your chest, to capture images of your heart. It evaluates your heart’s pumping ability, valves, and overall structure.
Transesophageal Echocardiography
Occasionally, closer images of your heart may be needed—in these circumstances, the ultrasound probe must be placed inside of the patient’s esophagus. Mild conscious sedation is used to keep you comfortable during this procedure.
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Diagnosis and Intervention
Often, blood vessels supplying the legs can become blocked with atherosclerotic plaques, causing pain or fatigue with walking. In our PAD lab, we diagnose and manage complex peripheral lesions, providing symptomatic relief and lifestyle improvement.
Please click here to view a brief description of Vascular Ultrasound Testing .
Holter and Event Monitors
This is a device used to evaluate your heart for any abnormal rhythms. You will be sent home with a small box that records your heartbeat. You wear this device at home, as you go about your daily activities. After a certain amount of time—24 hours to 30 days—you will bring the box back to our office, where it will be read by our physicians.
You may be recommended to wear a holter monitor for a limited duration. Please click on the document below to view, download and print the patient acknowldgement form.
Cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography:
This procedure is used to visualize the arteries that supply blood to your heart. A catheter is placed into an artery in your groin or arm, and advanced to the heart. Pictures are then taken with contrast dye and xray. Often times, we find blockages (atherosclerotic plaques) in the coronary arteries that can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, or even lead to a heart attack.
You may be scheduled for cadiac catherization at either the Methodist University Hospital or Baptist Memorial Hospital. Please click on the relevant document for important information on the instructions before and after the procedure:
Angioplasty and coronary stenting:
When blockages are discovered by angiography, they may be opened using either balloon angioplasty and/or coronary stenting (a mesh wire structure used to keep the artery open).
