Bayshore Community Hospital
provides a variety of in- and outpatient diagnostic and rehabilitative
cardiac services to the community that are offered to help your
physician diagnose and treat many types of heart disease.
These services include:
Diagnostic cardiac services include:
Electrocardiogram (EKG):
An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a recording of the electrical activity
occurring in the heart every time it contracts, or pumps. Electrodes are
placed on specific parts of the body (chest, arms and legs). These are
necessary so that the electrical activity can be printed out on graph
paper. The EKG can help your physician diagnose many types of heart
problems and abnormalities, which may or may not need to be treated. The
test is painless, usually only lasts about 10 minutes and requires no
preparation.
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Signal Average EKG:
This type of EKG may be helpful to determine the significance and
severity of certain types of heart arrhythmias (variations in the rhythm
at which the heart beats). Electrodes will be placed on your chest, arms
and legs so that your heart rhythm may be monitored while you lie in a
quiet and dimly lit room. There is no preparation for the test.
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Holter Monitoring:
The holter monitor is similar to the routine EKG, except that it records
for a longer period of time, usually 24 or 48 hours. Several electrodes
are placed on the chest and attached to a small monitor (similar to a
tape recorder) which is carried around with you in a pouch. This
procedure allows your physician to monitor your heart rhythm for a long
period of time as you continue your normal daily activities. The test is
painless, and the hook up to the monitor usually takes only about 15
minutes. There is no preparation for this test.
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Event Monitoring:
Like the holter monitoring described above, this test also involves a
hook up to a small monitor that allows your EKG to be recorded. This
monitor is carried for several weeks, or even up to a month. Your EKG
rhythm is not recorded continuously, but only when you experience any
type of discomfort or symptoms. The monitor hook up takes about 15-20
minutes, and there is no preparation for the test.
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Echocardiogram:
An "echo" is an ultrasound of your heart. While you lie on your back or
your side, a small probe is moved over the chest to take pictures of the
heart and observe it beating. These pictures tell your physician about
the size and structure of your heart, how the blood flows through the
heart and how well your heart is pumping blood. The test takes 20-40
minutes; there is no preparation.
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Transesophageal
Echocardiogram:
A Transesophageal Echocardiogram (sometimes called a "TEE") is a special
type of ultrasound of the heart whereby a small probe is placed in the
mouth and fed through the throat to get close to the heart. You will be
mildly sedated before the probe is placed. A cardiologist will be
present throughout the test. While you lie on your back or side, the
probe will be aimed to take pictures of the size, structure and pumping
function of your heart. This will take about 45-60 minutes. After your
pictures are completed and the probe is removed, you will be monitored
by a nurse for two-three hours until the sedation wears off. You will be
asked to have nothing to eat or drink for at least six hours before your
test.
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Regular Exercise Stress Test:
The stress test allows your physician to learn how your heart responds
and functions while you are exercising, and is often used to evaluate
the blood flow through the arteries to your heart. You will have
electrodes placed on your chest and be connected to an EKG monitor. A
cardiologist will be present while you exercise on a treadmill. While
you walk, your EKG will be monitored continuously and your blood
pressure will be taken at regular intervals. When the physician feels
enough information has been collected from the test, or if you feel that
you would like to stop, the exercise will be ended. After resting for a
short while, you will be free to leave. You are asked to have nothing to
eat or drink for three hours before your appointment time. You should
wear clothing and shoes that are comfortable for walking. The test
should take about 30-45 minutes.
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Nuclear Medicine Scan:
Nuclear Stress Tests — These tests tell your physician about the blood
flow to your heart and also about how well your heart is pumping blood.
You will have pictures taken of your heart both before and after it has
been "stressed." The word "nuclear" means that you will have an
intravenous (IV) needle inserted and receive two injections of small
amounts of radioactive liquids. These liquids allow us to obtain the
pictures. The liquids are very safe to use and are not harmful to your
body.
While you have your pictures taken, you will lie on a table on your
back, with both arms placed behind your head. A special camera will move
around your chest to take the images. The stress involved is carefully
controlled; there will be a cardiologist present for this part of the
test. Your heart may be stressed by having you walk on a treadmill for
several minutes. The exercise test tells your physician about how your
heart responds and functions while you are exercising.
If you are not able to walk on the treadmill, we will use a medication
instead. The medication will make your heart feel that you have
exercised, without you having to do so. The particular medication you
are given is based upon your specific medical history.
You will be asked to have nothing to eat or drink for three-four hours
before your test. You should also avoid caffeine for 18-24 hours before
the test. This includes coffee, tea, chocolate and caffeinated sodas. If
you are taking any medications, check with your primary care physician
and/or cardiologist, as your physician may not want you to take certain
medicines on the day of the test.
If your physician tells you to
take your medication, you may do so with small sips of water.
Finally, if you will be walking on the treadmill, you should wear
comfortable clothing and shoes.
MUGA (Multiple Gated Acquisition) Scan:
MUGA scans allow us to take moving pictures of your heart beating. This
tells us how strongly your heart contracts as it beats, and how much
blood gets pumped out to your body with each beat. You will receive an
injection of a small amount of radioactive liquid; this liquid allows us
to obtain the pictures. The liquid is very safe to use and is not
harmful to your body. After the injection, you will lie on a table on
your back while a special camera takes the images. You will have three
electrodes placed on your chest so that we can monitor your heart rhythm
during the picture taking. The duration of this test can vary; it may
take anywhere from 60 to 100 minutes. Your technologist can give you a
better time estimate once you are here for your test. You should have
nothing to eat or drink for three-four hours before your appointment
time.
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