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Cardiac Services

Tests

ECG (Electrocardiogram)

The ECG is a graph of the electrical activity of the heart. Your doctor uses the ECG to assess your heart rhythm, diagnose poor blood flow to the heart muscle, diagnose a heart attack, and diagnose abnormalities such as heart chamber enlargement and abnormal electrical conduction.

Holter Monitor

A Holter monitor is a portable ECG recorder that is worn during your normal daily activities, including sleep. It can be worn up to 48 hours. The electrical impulses are continuously recorded and stored in the Holter monitor. A technician analyzes the recording and looks for any abnormalities of the rhythm and prepares a full report for the doctor’s review and interpretation.

Event Monitor

This device, similar to a Holter monitor, is worn during normal daily activities including sleeping; however, it is worn for a longer period of time. It is used for arrhythmias that occur less frequently. The rhythm can be sent immediately or saved and transmitted later, over the phone line. The technician will give the recordings to a Cardiologist for review. If the reading indicates an emergency the technician will instruct you to go to the emergency room.

Stress Test

The exercise stress test involves exercising on a treadmill while you are closely monitored. The test is used to: Determine your likelihood of having coronary artery disease, identify abnormal heart rhythms and evaluate the effectiveness of your cardiac treatment plan.

Cardiolite Stress Test

A nuclear exercise stress test is used to evaluate blood flow to the heart. During the test, a small amount of radioactive tracer is injected into a vein. A special camera, called a gamma camera, detects the radiation released by the tracer to produce computer images of the heart. These images, obtained at rest and after exercise, are compared to evaluate coronary blood flow.

Persantine Stress Test

If you are unable to exercise on a treadmill for a stress test, a medication, called dipyridamole (Persantine) is used instead of exercise to test the heart's blood flow.

Echocardiograpy

An imaging procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to create a moving picture outline of the heart’s valves and chambers directed by a hand held wand or transducer placed on the chest. Echo is often combined with Doppler ultrasound and color Doppler to evaluate blood flow across the heart's valves to detect abnormal leakage or blockage.

Transespheageal Echocardiography

An invasive imaging procedure that creates a picture of the heart's movement, valves and chambers using high frequency sound waves that come from a small transducer passed down your throat. TEE provides clear images of the heart's movement because the transducer is close to the heart and limits interference from air in the lungs. Echo is often combined with Doppler ultrasound and color Doppler to evaluate blood flow across the heart's valves.

Stress Echocardiography

The exercise stress echo test involves exercising while you are closely monitored. An echocardiogram is done at rest and at peak heart rate after exercise. The images are compared to determine how well your heart tolerates activity; Evaluate the function of your heart and valves; Determine your likelihood of having coronary artery disease; and Evaluate the effectiveness of your cardiac treatment plan.

Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography

A procedure that involves infusing a medication through an intravenous (IV) line, called dobutamine, while you are closely monitored.  Dobutamine stimulates your heart and is used when you are unable to exercise on a treadmill. An echocardiogram is done at rest and throughout the procedure to evaluate your heart and valve function.

Carotid Duplex Ultrasound

An imaging procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to view the blood vessels in the neck and to determine the presence of narrowing in the carotid arteries.

Vascular Ultrasound

A non-invasive ultrasound method (also called a duplex study) used to examine the circulation of the arteries and/or the veins in the arms and legs.

Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)/Segmental Arterial Pressures

The ABI is a measurement of the blood pressure at the ankle compared to the blood pressure in the arm. The blood pressure cuffs are placed on the limbs and inflated, while Doppler is used to listen to blood flow in the leg and arm. The ABI helps your physician diagnose arterial disease in the legs, but it does not identify where arteries are blocked.  Segmental arterial pressures help localize an arterial obstruction by using cuffs at 3 to 4 levels placed on the legs.

Testing Locations

Quality exams are performed by experienced technologists and physicians, using the latest digital technology in a comfortable, friendly environment.

Feather River Hospital
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Feather River Outpatient Clinic – Clark Road
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

876-7907
876-7989 Fax

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