| Cardiac CT Imaging/Non-Invasive Coronary | | | | blockages. Patients undergo an injection of a |
| AngiogramUsing computed tomography and | | | | short-acting radioactive substance prior to and during |
| advanced computer software, Los Angeles | | | | treadmill exercise. The patient then lies under a |
| Cardiology services provider Apex Cardiology can | | | | "gamma" camera while a computer collects |
| now obtain a non-invasive image of the beating heart. | | | | information and creates a detailed image of the heart |
| This allows you to obtain detailed information about | | | | muscle. This image allows the cardiologist to detect |
| the structure of a patient's heart and coronary | | | | coronary artery blockages by looking for past and |
| arteries, which until recently, was only available by an | | | | potential future heart muscle damage. A medication |
| invasive coronary angiogram. The extent of arterial | | | | called adenosine can be substituted for exercise for |
| calcification can also be determined using this | | | | those patients who cannot walk on a treadmill |
| procedure and is an important early indicator of the | | | | adequately or safely. |
| presence of coronary artery disease. These | | | | EchocardiographyEchocardiography or an "echo" uses |
| discoveries may lead to earlier treatment that will | | | | sound waves to create images of the heart. During |
| prevent a heart attack or possible death. So instead | | | | this procedure, a technologist uses a hand-held |
| of considering a angiogram los angeles patients can | | | | scanning device that creates digital images for a |
| now go for cardiac CT imaging. | | | | cardiologist to review. These images help the |
| Stress Testing | | | | cardiologist learn more about heart size and function, |
| Stress Testing is designed to give you information | | | | including the chambers and valves. Sometimes this is |
| about the health of the heart and help diagnose | | | | performed both prior to and after stress testing to |
| coronary artery blockages. During stress testing, we | | | | improve detection of coronary artery blockages. |
| conduct an electrocardiogram (ECG) while the patient | | | | Cardiac Catheterization / Invasive Coronary |
| exercises on the treadmill. The exercise difficulty and | | | | Angiogram |
| duration increase during the test so that we can | | | | During this procedure, performed by a cardiologist in |
| obtain more information about how the heart | | | | the hospital setting, a catheter is inserted through a |
| performs. In some cases, we may combine imaging | | | | small hole in the femoral artery at the top of the leg. |
| of the heart with the ECG to gain additional | | | | The catheter is advanced through the aorta to the |
| information (see Nuclear Cardiology and | | | | heart and is used to inject x-ray dye into the heart |
| Echocardiography). We also provide non-exercise | | | | and coronary arteries and to measure pressures |
| (pharmacological) protocols for patients who cannot | | | | inside the heart. This procedure is performed under |
| adequately walk on a treadmill. | | | | light sedation. The results may indicate the presence |
| Nuclear Cardiology | | | | of coronary artery blockages, heart muscle damage, |
| Los Angeles Cardiology patients can also take the | | | | and valvular heart disease. |
| nuclear cardiology, also sometimes called a "nuclear | | | | So if you are considering heart surgery los angeles |
| stress test" or "stress cardiolite" study, nuclear | | | | patients should consider Apex Cardiology and check |
| cardiac imaging is used in conjunction with stress | | | | their services. |
| testing to improve the detection of coronary artery | | | | |