Putting your heart to the test
Some forms of heart disease are easily missed when the patient is at rest. A stress test can be an important diagnostic tool because some heart problems only become apparent when the heart is working a little harder. The stress test is used to evaluate the heart and vascular system during exercise. At CVAM we offer a variety of stress testing options to meet the needs of our patients.
ECG Stress Testing uses basic ECG monitoring to determine any potential risk for a heart attack or arrhythmia. This test is usually done prior to more extensive stress testing. Learn more.
Stress Echocardiogram uses ECG monitoring along with ultrasound to see changes in the wall motion of the heart. Learn more.
Dobutamine Stress Echocardiograms are used for those patients who cannot walk or have limited exercise capacities. A nurse infuses the medication into the patient and uses ECG monitoring along with ultrasound to see changes in the wall motion of the heart. Learn more.
T-Wave Alternans is a relatively new type of stress testing. This test is designed to evaluate patients for deadly arrhythmias usually associated with sudden death. Patients exercise up to a predetermined heart rate and ECG monitoring is performed.
Nuclear Perfusion Stress Testing, uses a special type of radioactive contrast material that is injected to help create more detailed images of your heart. Learn more.
Ultrasound Testing
The following studies are the foundation of our on-site imaging services and many are locally unique to our practice.
Cardiac Studies
An echocardiogram, or echo, is an ultrasound of the heart. A jelly-like substance is put on a probe which is placed over the chest area. The probe produces high frequency sound waves that bounce off solid objects (the heart and blood vessels), creating echoes that appear as moving images showing how well the heart is working. There are no known side effects. Learn more.
A bubble echocardiogram is an expanded echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart, that provides additional information about the heart. A bubble solution of saline is injected into the arm to better view blood flow as the saline moves through the heart. The saline dissolves into the blood and is expelled by the body.
A stress echocardiogram, or stress echo, is a special type of echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart, which produces images of the heart at rest as well as after stress, triggered by exercise on a treadmill or a medication that causes the heart to beat as if exercising. This study shows how effectively the heart is pumping, especially under stress, and if there is a lack of blood flow. Learn more
A chemical stress echocardiogram is a special type of echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart, which examines the heart at rest and then after stress triggered by a medication (Dobutamine or Adenosine) that causes the heart to beat as if exercising. This test is for patients who are unable to exercise on a treadmill. Learn more
Vascular Studies
A carotid duplex scan provides a two-dimensional ultrasound image of the carotid arteries in the neck. The study is referred to as duplex because it uses two types of ultrasound, Doppler and B-mode, to view the arteries as well as the speed and direction of the blood flow from the heart through the neck to the brain.
An upper extremity arterial duplex scan is an ultrasound of the arteries or arterial bypass grafts in the upper portion of the body from the subclavian arteries (major arteries of the chest below the collar bone or clavicle) to the wrist. Arteries are the vessels that carry blood away from the heart. A lower extremity arterial duplex study is an ultrasound of the arteries or arterial bypass grafts in the lower portion of the body from the distal abdominal aorta to the tibial arteries (ankle level). In addition to vessel blockage, the upper and lower extremity arterial duplex studies are used to detect any enlargement which is the result of an aneurysm. An aneurysm is a bulge in an artery caused by a weakening in the vessel wall.
An upper venous duplex scan is an ultrasound of the arms. The veins are the vessels that carry blood to the heart. The lower extremity venous study is designed to assess the deep and superficial leg veins for blood clots – DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and venous insufficiency. We also use venous extremity studies to measure size and structure of the superficial veins for possible use as bypass grafts.
An abdominal aortic duplex study is an ultrasound of the abdominal aorta as well as the ilac arteries. The abdominal aorta is the large blood vessel which travels from the back of the chest through the abdomen, providing blood to the lower part of the body. It branches out through the pelvis, via ilac arteries, to the legs. In addition to vessel blockage, the study is used to detect any enlargement which is the result of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm is a bulge in an artery caused by a weakening in the vessel wall.
A renal artery duplex scan is an examination of the abdominal aorta and renal arteries which service the kidneys. This study looks for significant plaque within the renal arteries which can cause uncontrollable hypertension or renal failure. We also look at the kidney size and function for the possibility of renal cysts or other kidney abnormalities.
A mesenteric artery duplex scan is an ultrasound test. The superior and inferior mesenteric arteries branch out from the abdominal aorta. They supply the intestine with blood. In addition to vessel blockage, the study is used to detect any enlargement which is the result of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm is a bulge in an artery caused by a weakening in the vessel wall.
The ankle brachial index test (ABI or ABPI) with and without stress (non-imaging) measures the ratio between the blood pressure in the upper arms and the blood pressure in the legs at the ankle. It is primarily used to check for risk of peripheral artery disease or PAD which is indicated by lower blood pressure in the legs versus the arms. The test can be done at rest or can provide more telling indications when the heart is stressed through exercise on a treadmill.