Diagnosis

Saint Francis Medical Center's Heart Hospital uses various tests and procedures to diagnose heart-related disorders, including:

Angiography

An angiography is an X-ray test used to detect diseases of the blood vessels, such as the weakening of the vessel walls and the narrowing or blocking of vessels. The X-ray is taken after the vessels are injected with a substance that enables them to be captured on film.

Blood pressure monitoring

Blood pressure is monitored around the clock.

CT

The computerized tomography (CT) scanner helps identify aortic disease, cardiac masses and pericardial diseases.

64-slice CT

The 64-slice CT is a powerful computer-driven scanner that can capture vividly detailed 3-D images in 5-10 seconds (compared to 30-40 seconds for previous CT scanners) and provide unprecedented clarity with full-color, high-resolution imaging for early detection of various diseases and pathologies to more accurately diagnose and treat patients.

Cardiac calcium scoring

Cardiac calcium scoring uses high-speed CT technology to take rapid pictures of the heart and the arteries around it to detect calcium or plaque buildup. Plaque causes hardening of the arteries and can lead to heart attack if left untreated. A scan is assigned a score from 0 (no calcification) to 400 (significant calcium buildup).

EKG and stress testing

An electrocardiogram (EKG) measures the heart's electrical activity to help diagnose abnormal heart conditions, while a stress test examines the function of the heart. Patients walk on a treadmill to increase their heart rate, while a physician monitors the EKG readings to check for irregularities in the heart rhythm.

Holter monitoring

During a heart Holter monitor study, a patient wears a monitor (usually for 24 hours) that records electrical activity of the heart. At the same time, a patient also records a diary of his/her activity. Heart care specialists then analyze the data to diagnose any irregularities.

Intravascular ultrasound

Intravascular ultrasound is an alternative to angiography that enables doctors to view coronary anatomy during diagnostic and interventional catheterization to identify structural abnormalities of the vessel wall.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses powerful magnets to look inside the body. Computer-generated pictures can show the heart muscle, identify damage from a heart attack, diagnose certain congenital cardiovascular defects and evaluate disease of larger blood vessels.

Nuclear Medicine

Small amounts of radioactive tracers are used to help identify heart disease.

P.E.T. scanner

A positron emission tomography (P.E.T.) scanner is an imaging test that shows how organs function rather than just how they look. Functional abnormalities usually occur long before structural damages are evident, making early detection of disease possible.

Transesophageal echocardiogram

A transesophageal echocardiogram is a special type of imaging procedure that uses a tube with a transducer on the end of it. The tube is passed down your throat into the esophagus to get very clear images of your heart and its structure.