Cardiac Diagnostic Tests at Stamford Hospital

There are many diagnostic tests, procedures and tools to help identify if you have cardiovascular disease, how extensive it is and what has caused the problem. New methods for diagnosis are also being introduced that help further clarify the complexity of the problem to help your doctor plan the best treatment.

Advanced Screening & Testing Technology at Stamford Hospital

Stamford Hospital's Heart & Vascular Institute utilizes state of the art testing equipment to gather as much information as possible about your condition. We have the latest and most advanced screening technology including 64-slice coronary angiography, nuclear imaging and echocardiograpy.

Some of the cardiac diagnostic tests you may undergo at Stamford Hospital:

EKG/ECG (electrocardiogram)-- This test evaluates the electrical activity of the heart, at rest and with activity, showing abnormal rhythms (such as arrhythmias) and detects heart muscle damage.

Stress Test--A stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test or exercise test, helps a doctor find out how well your heart handles work. As your body works harder during the test, it requires more oxygen, so the heart must pump more blood. The test can show if the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart. It also helps doctors know the kind and level of exercise appropriate for a patient.

Nuclear Stress Test--A nuclear stress test measures blood flow to your heart muscle at rest and during stress. It is performed similar to a routine exercise stress test but provides images in addition to electrocardiograms.

Cardiac Nuclear Imaging--This method of testing utilizes radioactive dye injected into the body to produce precise imagery that provides detail about the heart's function.

Persantine Stress Test-- This test uses a pharmacologic agent (Persantine) to stimulate the heart in a patient who is unable to exercise, revealing areas of the heart muscle that are not getting enough blood.

Sestamibi Scanning-- Sestamibi stress tests are nuclear imaging methods that provide a view of the blood flow into the heart muscle, both at rest and during activity

Holter Monitor-- A small, portable, battery-powered ECG machine worn by a patient to record heartbeats on tape over a period of 24 to 48 hours - during normal activities. At the end of the time period, the monitor is returned to the physician's office so the tape can be read and evaluated.

Echocardiography or Ultrasound Tests-- This type of testing uses sound waves to create a study of the motion of the heart's chambers and valves, creating an image on a screen as an ultrasound transducer is passed over the heart. This provides information about the heart's structures, pumping action, and direction of blood flow.

24-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring--Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a method of taking regular blood pressure readings, usually over a 24-hour period, as patients conduct their normal activities. A special, automatic blood pressure monitor is used, and patients are asked to keep a diary or log of their activities during the day.

Tilt Table Test-- A test performed while the patient is connected to ECG and blood pressure monitors and strapped to a table that literally tilts the patient from a lying-down to standing position. This test is used to identify patients prone to sudden drops in blood pressure or slow pulse rates with position changes.