Wise Health System’s Cardiopulmonary Service Department provides inpatient and outpatient diagnostic testing for patients with heart and lung disorders, including cardiac disease, seizure disorders, sleep apnea and respiratory disease. These tests use the latest diagnostic equipment and are operated by skilled medical technicians.
Coronary Calcium Score Screening
A coronary calcium score screening uses a special X-ray called a computed tomography (CT) scan to check for the build-up of calcium on the walls of the coronary arteries (arteries of the heart). Results of the screening can identify and determine the severity of heart disease.
Cardiac Lab Tests
Cardiac AB tests give physicians vital information that helps identify a heart attack quickly, even when a patient’s symptoms are unclear. These tests measure substances that signal cardiac stress or damage, which are released into the bloodstream. Results of cardiac lab tests help physicians diagnose heart attack accurately and promptly.
Chest X-rays
A chest x-ray is used to help diagnose conditions like lung cancer, heart failure and pneumonia by capturing an image of structures like your heart, lungs, ribs, diaphragm and large arteries inside your chest.
CT Angiogram
A CT angiogram is a computerized tomography (CT) coronary angiogram used to capture images of the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle. Rather than using a catheter, the CT angiogram uses a powerful x-ray machine to take the images.
Dobutamine Stress Test
Dobutamine stress Echocardiogram is a noninvasive procedure that is used to assess the heart muscle under stress using the medication, dobutamine. This medication makes the heart beat faster by mimicking the effects of exercise.
Ultrasonic sound waves are used to communicate to a computer system that is able to use these sound waves to develop an image of the heart’s walls and valves.
Outpatient Stress Test
The outpatient stress test uses exercise to evaluate your cardiovascular (heart) and pulmonary (lung) systems using an electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) to assess how your heart manages the level of work. Monitoring the ECG and blood pressure responses to the exercise will help identify if there are any heart or lung problems.
Stress Echocardiogram
Some heart problems — particularly those involving the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle (coronary arteries) — occur only during physical activity. Your doctor might recommend a stress echocardiogram to check for coronary artery problems. However, an echocardiogram can’t provide information about any blockages in the heart’s arteries.
In a stress echocardiogram:
- Ultrasound images of your heart are taken before and immediately after you walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike
- If you’re unable to exercise, you may get an injection of a medication to make your heart pump as hard as if you were exercising
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)
TEE stands for transesophageal ehocardiography, which is a type of echo, or ultra sound, that shows the shape and size of the heart and how well it’s working. A TEE can detect possible blood clots, fluid buildup in the pericardium (sac around the heart), and problems with the aorta (the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body). During TEE, the doctor is able to get a better understanding of your heart by running a tube down the throat and into the esophagus allowing him/her to see the heart, which is directly in front of the esophagus. This procedure allows doctors to determine whether a patient may have heart and/or blood vessel diseases and conditions.
Transthoracic echocardiogram
This is the standard type of echocardiogram. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This common test allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood. Your doctor can use the images from an echocardiogram to identify heart disease.