Diagnostic cardiology

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces very detailed images of structures within and around the heart, using a magnetic field, radio waves and a computer. It allows your doctor to identify any abnormalities or heart disease. It does not use radiation.

An echocardiogram, or “echo”, uses ultrasound to take images of your heart, which allows your doctor to see your heart beating and pumping blood, in order to identify any heart disease. It can be done at rest or at an elevated heart rate, either through exercise or medication.

A Transoesophageal Echocardiogram is a procedure performed under sedation to look at the structures of the heart using a flexible telescope placed down your oesophagus (gullet). The telescope has an ultrasound scanner attached to it, so your heart specialist can get a close-up view of your heart.

A stress test is an echocardiogram taken when your heart rate is elevated, either through exercise (treadmill stress echocardiogram), or medication (Dobutamine stress echocardiogram).

A minimally invasive procedure that uses radio-opaque dye to assess the blood supply to the heart via a thin, flexible catheter inserted through the femoral or radial artery under local anaesthetic.

A myocardial perfusion scan, also known as a nuclear stress test, injects a tiny amount of radioactive substance into the bloodstream and uses imaging to show how well the heart muscle is pumping, and how blood flows through it. It can be done at rest or while you exercise.

A minimally invasive procedure that diagnoses certain heart, valve and lung conditions. It involves insertion of a thin, flexible catheter via the femoral vein under local anaesthetic.

• Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
• Fractional flow reserve testing (FFR).
• Optical coherence tomography (OCT).

These are cardiac intravascular imaging options similar to a coronary angiogram. They allow the cardiologist an optimal assessment of coronary artery disease. This imaging uses ultrasound or CT via a fine flexible catheter threaded to the coronary artery.