Diagnostic Services We Offer

Echocardiography

An echocardiogram is a test that uses ultrasound to create images of the heart. An ultrasound sends sound waves through the area of the body being studied to create images of internal body structures. The test is also known as an "echo."

Peripheral Artery Imaging - Carotid, Abdominal, Renal Artery and Lower Extremity Ultrasound

Peripheral arterial imaging is a test that provides your doctor with information about the condition of the arteries and veins outside of your heart using ultrasound to develop a 2 dimensional image and to evaluate the flow of blood through that vessel.

Myocardial Perfusion Test / Nuclear Stress Test

A Myocardial Perfusion Scan (also called a nuclear stress test) allows your doctor to see how your heart muscle works both when you are resting and when your heart is stressed. Your heart can be “stressed” with exercise on a treadmill or with drugs that increase the heart rate or change the way blood flows through the coronary arteries.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram

A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is a test that uses ultrasound waves to look at your heart from inside your chest. For this test, a small, flexible tube (or probe) with an ultrasound transducer at its tip is carefully placed in the esophagus to view the structures of the heart in a more comprehensive manner than a traditional transthoracic (through the chest wall) approach can provide. As this test is more invasive, patients are usually given medication to relax and sleep during the procedure.

Exercise Stress Test

This is a test that uses an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to record your heart’s electrical activity while walking on a treadmill. The test is performed to help evaluate chest pain and how your heart is functioning. We also offer Cardio Metabolic Stress Testing (MVO2).

Stress Echocardiogram

This is a test that allows your doctor to compare images of your heart muscle at rest with how it functions when stressed during exercise. Your heart rate is increased through exercise on a treadmill. In some cases, a drug is used to increase the heart rate rather than exercise. An echocardiogram is performed before you begin exercising and then immediately after you stop. Your heartbeat and blood pressure are also monitored during your stress echocardiogram.

Holter Recording

A Holter recorder is a device that continuously records the electrical activity of your heart for 24 hours. The recorder records your heartbeat while you perform your usual daily activities. You wear the recorder and keep a diary to report symptoms or events to help your cardiologist determine if your symptoms are related to an abnormality of your heart rhythm.

Event Monitor

An Event Monitor is a small recording device that looks similar to a pager. You are given a recorder to use for 30 days and you push a button to record your heart activity any time you experience symptoms. The recorder records your heart activity for about 2 minutes and helps your cardiologist determine whether your symptoms are related to an abnormal heart rhythm.

ECG or EKG

An electrocardiogram demonstrates how your heart's electrical system is working. The ECG senses and records the flow of electrical current through the muscle cells in your heart. The results are printed on a strip of paper or recorded electronically.

Clinical Research

In clinic and hospital settings, research trials are performed with patients who generously give doctors, and those in the cardiovascular research and healthcare industry, the opportunity to further study cardiovascular disease. Medical City Heart & Transplant Specialists have been active in research, advancing new preventive and treatment options for our patients. These studies are vital and allow us to provide leading edge treatments to our patients who are involved in these investigative trials. We are grateful to our patients who take part in them.

Why do we participate in clinical trials?

Our physicians believe that by studying new medications and treatment options for cardiovascular disease, they will be able to offer a higher level of care to their patients. Our practice has access to national clinical trials in advanced cardiac heart failure, mechanical heart pumps (LVAD) and heart transplant.

What criteria must the patient meet to participate in a trial?

Each clinical study has specific criteria to which the patient must meet. These guidelines relate to the patient’s condition and determine whether he/she is qualified to participate. If considering whether to participate in a study or not, it is best to speak with your physician about any concerns or questions you may have.

If you have a heart-related condition and would like to participate in a trial, speak with your cardiologist at Medical City Heart & Transplant Specialist first.

You may also contact our research organization at Sarah Cannon Research Institute - Cardiovascular at (972) 566-2638 to learn more about our clinical trials. Update with new name of the Research Institute.

Cardiovascular Conditions

Prevention

Heart Disease is the leading cause of the death in the United States and the #1 killer of American women. Over one quarter of all deaths result from heart disease.

The American Heart Association recommends that heart attack prevention begin by age 20. This means assessing your risk factors and working to keep them low.

Many first-ever heart attacks or strokes are fatal or disabling, so prevention is critical. For those over 40, or those with multiple risk factors, it's important to calculate the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years.

Diagnosis

A heart attack itself may be your first symptom of an underlying problem. To diagnose a condition, heart patients may be asked to undergo a number of diagnostic tests and procedures that might include:

  1. Review of their medical history
  2. Physical examination
  3. Electrocardiogram test (ECG or EKG) to discover any abnormalities caused by damage to the heart.
  4. A blood test to detect abnormal levels of certain enzymes in the bloodstream.
  5. Diagnostic measures can be "non-invasive" and "invasive"
  6. Non-invasive tests don't involve inserting needles, instruments or fluids into the body.
  7. Invasive procedures can include a simple needle prick for a blood test or shot, insertion of a tube, device or scope and major surgeries such as open-heart surgery.

Treatment

A customized treatment plan will be presented to you and your family once the results of your diagnostic tests have been received. Treatments will vary depending on individual test results.

Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

  1. Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
  2. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
  4. Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

NOTE: As with men, women's most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.

Even if you're not sure it's a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Don't wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1 or your emergency response number.

Major Factors for Heart Disease

  1. Tobacco use
  2. Alcohol use
  3. High blood pressure (hypertension)
  4. High cholesterol
  5. Obesity
  6. Physical inactivity
  7. Unhealthy diet

Improve Your Heart Health By

  1. Stop Smoking
  2. Increase your physical activity - exercise, get moving
  3. Maintain a healthy diet
  4. Stress Management
  5. Maintain a healthy weight
  6. Manage your cholesterol level
  7. Manage your blood pressure level

Hospital-Based Imaging Services:

Cardiovascular Imaging Center

A Department of Medical City Dallas:

Notice of Separate Physician and Hospital Charges

The Cardiovascular Imaging Center is an outpatient department of Medical City Dallas. Through our partnership with Medical City Dallas we are able to provide you with the highest level of quality imaging service. When services are furnished in an outpatient department of a hospital, charges for the hospital’s services are billed separately from a physician’s supervision and interpretation services.

These charges will also go towards your hospital deductible (if applicable). Unlike a visit to a physician’s office, a visit to a hospital outpatient department results in two separate bills being sent to your insurance company for payment. Depending on your insurance coverage you may receive two separate bills for the healthcare services provided to you during your visit to the Medical City Dallas Imaging Center.

Physician Services Bill: This bill is from Dallas Cardiovascular Specialists and is for services from the physician who supervises and interprets your diagnostic procedure during your visit.

Medical City Dallas Bill: This bill is from Medical City Dallas and will cover services or items that are provided by the hospital personnel, which involve hospital equipment and supplies used at the Medical City Dallas. If time allows, the Medical City Dallas’ staff will contact you prior to the test to give an estimate of your expected charges to be paid up front.

Occurrences during the test may cause the actual billed amount to vary. To verify your benefits and potential out of pocket expense, please call (972) 566-6722.

Your specific charges will depend on the actual services received. Your payment requirements will be subject to your specific insurance plan. Please review your health plan documents for details on your outpatient hospital service coverage or contact your health plans member services number for coverage questions.

If you have additional questions about your out of pocket expenses for the upcoming tests you may call:

  • (972) 566-6722 for Medical City Dallas portion
  • (972) 566-8855 for Dallas Cardiovascular portion

A Medical City Representative will contact you prior to your test to register your insurance. If you do not hear from someone, or would like to pre-register, please call (972) 566-2519.

We recognizes that you have a choice to obtain medical testing at any facility. Scheduling the test at Medical City Dallas’ Imaging facility guarantees that a Board Certified physician will interpret the test.