Georgia
Heart Specialists Services
- Preventive Cardiology - Developed by Dr. Michael Cecil, who is board certified in Lipidology, it involves detailed lipid analysis and aggressive treatment recommendations along with Coronary Calcium Scoring, done in conjunction with Newton Hospital, which can assess very early coronary plaque development and future risk of heart attack.
- Treadmill Stress Testing - Basic screening test used to detect severe blockages in the heart arteries, to evaluate chest pain and unexplained shortness of breath.
- Echocardiogram (Echo) - Non-invasive ultrasound test to look at heart function, valve leakage or narrowing, pressures in the heart, and fluid around the heart. Georgia Heart Specialists Echo Lab was one of the first in the country to be recognized and accredited for particular expertise and all of our physicians are board certified in Echocardiography which is extremely rare in the Atlanta area.
- Transesophageal Echo - Invasive ultrasound where a probe is swallowed under anesthesia to better look at heart and valve function when regular echo is inadequate. Stress Echo-Ultrasound - Performed before and after treadmill stress test to better look for severe heart blockages.
- Nuclear Stress Test - A nuclear agent (very low radioactivity) is injected thru an IV before and after exercise to better look for severe heart blockages. For patients who cannot walk adequately, a chemical can be injected to stress the heart. Georgia Heart Specialists Nuclear Lab is also accredited nationally for particular expertise and all of our physicians are board certified in Nuclear Cardiology.
- Holter or Event Monitor - EKG you wear at home for either 1 day or 30 days to look for abnormal heart rhythms.
- Ankle Brachial Index (ABI - Non-invasive test where blood pressures are measured in arms and legs to assess for blockages in leg arteries, peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
|
|
- Carotid Ultrasound - Non-invasive test to look for blockages in the carotid (neck) arteries which can cause a stroke.
- Abdominal/Lower Extremity Ultrasound - Non-invasive test to look for blockages in leg arteries or an aneurysm of the aorta in the abdomen.
- Cardiac Catheterization - Invasive test where a catheter is placed in the main artery of the leg in the groin and then under an X-Ray camera it is brought up to the heart and dye is injected to assess for blockages in heart arteries and heart function. It is our “gold-standard” test to look for blockages but because it is invasive, it carries risks and your physician will discuss the risks and benefits. Typical reasons when a heart catheterization is performed are in the setting of a heart attack, chest pain highly suspicious for a blockage, or very abnormal stress test. This is performed by our physicians at Newton, Rockdale, Piedmont, and Emory Hospital Midtown. Please see our patient info page for important pre- and post-catheterization information if you're considering this procedure.
- Angioplasty/Stent - Invasive procedure where a balloon is inflated inside of a severe coronary blockage to clear the obstruction and usually a piece of metal mesh, a stent, is placed to help the artery heal. This also has significant risks and benefits which will be discussed in detail by your physician. Options other than angioplasty are medical therapy or bypass surgery. Angioplasty is performed by Dr. Flores at Piedmont Hospital or Emory Hospital Midtown.
- Aortagram with Runoff - Invasive procedure where a catheter is placed in the main artery of the groin and dye is injected in the arteries of abdomen and legs to asses for severe blockages. This is usually indicated when patients have severe pain in their legs when they walk or have non-healing ulcers of their feet. This test is done by Dr. Flores predominantly at Rockdale Hospital. In addition, if severe blockages are found, they could be treated with angioplasty by Dr. Flores or he may recommend surgery.
|
