Medical Services Heart & Lung Services Cardiac Diagnostic Services

Cardiac Diagnostic Services

cardiac_diagnosticChester River Hospital Center offers a broad array of cardiology services to diagnose and treat diseases of the heart including high blood pressure, heart attack and abnormal heart rhythm. Diagnostic cardiology services include:

Cardiac Diagnostic Services are provided through the Chester River Hospital Center Radiology and Cardiology Departments which are located on the first floor of the hospital.

Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization

Chester River Hospital Center provides cutting-edge diagnostic cardiac catheterization in its state-of-the-art laboratory. The diagnostic procedure, which is performed by our medical staff cardiologists, produces images of coronary arteries and heart. During this outpatient procedure, the cardiologist inserts a thin flexible tuber (catheter) into a blood vessel in the groin or arm. A contrast medium (commonly called "dye") is injected through the catheter to determine whether narrowing or blockages are present in the coronary (heart) arteries, and to measure precisely how well the heart valves and heart muscle function.

This test will help the doctor to evaluate the patient's cardiac condition related to:

  • How well the heart muscle and valves are working
  • The extent of damage to the heart after a heart attack
  • Which coronary arteries are narrowed
  • The extent and degree of the narrowing
  • What treatment is required: medical management, an angioplasty or surgery

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Cardiac Stress Testing

At Chester River Hospital Center, we have the latest technology for administering non-invasive stress tests to patients who may be experiencing early signs of heart disease, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. Cardiac stress testing allows your physician to see how well your heart functions during physical exertion or exercise.
Chester River Hospital Center offers the following types of cardiac stress testing:

  • Treadmill Stress Test
  • Stress Echo-a combination of treadmill testing and an echocardiogram
  • Cardiolite Stress Test
  • Laxiscan Stress Test

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Echocardiography (ECHO)

Echocardiography is used to detect structural and functional abnormalities of the heart wall, valves or large blood vessels. This procedure is conducted by utilizing images of the structure of the heart taken during an ultra sound. Ultra sounds are high frequency sound waves that reflect differently from each part of the heart giving back a complex series of echoes that are then displayed as a series of lines on a tape or machine.

Echocardiography is a noninvasive procedure. Gel is applied to the chest and a transducer (wand-like apparatus) is moved over the chest area to produce an image of the internal structures of the heart. The test will take from 30 to 90 minutes depending on the patient's condition and the type of echo needed. This test will help the doctor to evaluate: how well your heart is moving, how well the valves are working and the size of the heart and its pumping chambers (ventricles).

With echocardiography your doctor can detect any abnormalities in the heart wall motion, thickening and diseases of the pericardium, any accumulation of fluid that is building between the heart muscle and the pericardium and the volume of blood that is being pumped from the heart each time it beats.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) Testing

The Electrocardiogram (ECG) is the most commonly performed cardiac test, and serves as a useful screening tool for a variety of cardiac abnormalities. The test is relatively simple to perform and is non-invasive.

ECG testing is conducted by placing electrodes onto the patient's arms, legs, and chest. These electrodes detect the electrical impulses generated by the heart, and transmit them to the ECG machine. The ECG machine produces a graph (the ECG tracing) of those cardiac electrical impulses. From the ECG tracing, the physician can determine heart rate, heart rhythm, whether there are conduction abnormalities, whether there has been a prior heart attack, whether there may be coronary artery disease and whether the heart muscle has become abnormally thickened.

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Chester River Hospital Center's new magnetic resonance imaging service is a noninvasive diagnostic procedure which uses radiofrequency waves and a strong magnetic field to provide extremely clear and detailed pictures of internal organs and tissues. Diagnostic MRI procedures utilized to evaluate cardiac conditions include:

Magnetic Resonance Angiography

angio_labMagnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) is a non-invasive imaging technique that is used to determine the extent of damage that may have been caused by a variety of cardiac or vascular conditions. MRA is performed in Chester River Hospital Center's state of the art MRI laboratory.

An MRA performed at Chester River Hospital Center allows your physician to determine the extent of the damage caused by a heart attack, or progressive heart disease. It is also used in detecting aneurysms, constriction of arteries and veins allowing for early treatment that could end up being life-saving.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Cardiac MRI) 

This technology, which is noninvasive and radiation-free, helps your physician evaluate both the structure and function of the heart and its blood vessels.

Our certified MRI technologists provide your physician with state of the art images of the structures and function of the heart and major vessels, without the risks associated with traditional, more invasive procedures. Using MRI, your physician can examine the size and thickness of the chambers of the heart, and determine the extent of damage caused by a heart attack or progressive heart disease. MRI can also detect the build-up of plaque and blockages in the blood vessels, making it an invaluable tool for detecting and evaluating coronary artery disease.

Through an affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, specially trained radiologists and technicians at Chester River Hospital Center work hand-in-hand with the Hopkins Division of Body MRI in analyzing and discussing the MRI images. Advanced teleradiology technology at Chester River Hospital Center allows MRI images to be transferred electronically (and confidentially) to experts at Johns Hopkins for review and consultation.

Nuclear Medicine Scan

A nuclear medicine scan is an imaging test. It is used to check the health of your internal organs. Among the organs often tested are the heart, lungs, thyroid, gallbladder and liver. This test uses a small amount of radioactive matter (tracer) and a special nuclear camera to form an image. By performing a nuclear medicine scan your physician can diagnose metabolic changes caused by small tumors, fine fractures, or degenerative diseases such as arthritis.

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