Saint John's Heart Institute offers a full range of technologically advanced diagnostic testing for cardiac disease. Following is a brief description of the tests offered at Saint John's. If you have any additional questions about the tests your physician has ordered, please feel free to call us.
To schedule tests your physician has ordered, please call 310-829-8760. Normal business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Patient appointments are scheduled on weekdays, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment so that we can complete your registration for the scheduled test or procedure.
A test in which electrodes, placed on the surface of the chest, are used to record heart rhythm and rate as well as to detect enlargement of the various chambers of the heart.
This is an electrocardiogram using seven (7) electrodes attached to a special computer. The test assesses risk factors for certain types of rhythm disturbances. A 12-lead ECG is also performed.
This procedure is performed using a 12-lead ECG and a treadmill. You will be monitored while exercising on the treadmill to assess the heart's response to exercise.
This test combines the treadmill portion with images recorded on computerized gamma cameras. You will receive a small dose of a radioactive substance (isotope), which the cameras can see. During exercise, you will be injected with the isotope and the images will be recorded. The test helps physicians see how blood flows through your arteries to determine if any heart muscle is damaged or if there is a serious narrowing in an artery.
An ultrasound procedure that provides images of the heart's valves and muscle functions using Doppler and color flow to determine the severity of obstructed valves. Blood-flow patterns can also be analyzed.
Bicycle exercise during ECG recording and ultrasound imaging adds an important dimension to exercise testing - the ability to image the left ventricle's response to exercise.
This test is an ultrasound procedure in which a miniature probe is placed down the esophagus to provide clear, detailed images of the heart chambers, valves and aorta. The test is invaluable for detecting heart valve infections and other abnormalities.
This test uses an intravenous medication that approximates the effects of exercise. This test, used for patients who cannot exercise, is an alternative to the Exercise Echocardiogram.
A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan is a non-invasive procedure used to locate abnormal biochemistry or disease, such as heart disease. A form of glucose called FDG, which emits particles called positrons, is injected into the patient and a PET scanner detects where positrons are being emitted from the patient. Areas which demonstrate high use of glucose help to determine the presence of disease.
An MRI is a test that uses a strong magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of the heart, such as the valves and coronary blood vessels. It is often used to detect damage to the heart and/or problems of the arteries and veins, such as an aneurysm or a torn inner lining of a blood vessel (dissection). A contrast material may also be used during an MRI to help evaluate blood flow.
Using Computer Tomography (CT), the speed and accuracy of an Ultrafast CT Scan allows for the measurement of calcium deposits in the coronary arteries and is a valuable tool for evaluating the risk of future heart attacks.
An angiogram is an x-ray visualization of the internal heart and blood vessels using a contrast dye that is inject into a catheter, which is then threaded into an artery leading to the heart. The dye allows the cardiologist to see on a viewing screen whether your coronary arteries are blocked and how your heart is beating.
This test is designed to provoke arrhythmias and allow for their detailed analysis, including exact location. Cardiologists will perform a cardiac catheterization procedure in which small wires are inserted through a leg vein in the groin and are guided into the heart with an x-ray imaging machine. A small wire may also be inserted into the patient's neck or under their collarbone. These wires send electrical signals to the heart to cause an arrhythmia, enabling physicians to determine where the arrhythmia starts.
After an intravenous line is inserted, you will lie flat on a table which will slowly tilt to 80 degrees, so that you are almost standing straight. A medication is administered, similar to adrenaline, during the test, which is used to investigate patients with episodes of lightheadedness or fainting spells, known as syncope.
This is a test to check rhythm, pacemaker/ICD function and battery. Tests are repeated at intervals related to the age of the device.
Pacemaker testing described above, plus additional testing to assess pacemaker lead positions and amount of power needed for proper response. Tests are done externally with special programmers.
This ultrasound test takes pictures of the veins in the legs to detect obstructions and abnormal flow patterns.
This ultrasound test takes pictures of the arteries in the neck (carotid) or legs (femoral) along with their patterns of blood flow (duplex). This test will detect plaques, obstructions and aneurysms.