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Heart
disease is the number-one cause of death in men and women in the United
States. That's why it's so important to know your risk factors,
recognize the warning signs, and know how to respond if warning signs
occur. OakBend Medical Center is working to reduce the effects of heart
disease in our community. How? - Through focusing on prevention,
regular screening, state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment.
OakBend Medical Center offers the latest technologies in non-invasive cardiac and vascular diagnosis:
Echocardiogram
Transesophageal Echocardiogram
Stress Echocardiogram
Carotid Ultrasound
Nuclear Cardiology
Coronary Artery Scan (CT Heart Scan)
Diagnostic Heart Catheterization
Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD)
Echocardiogram
This
non-invasive procedure for studying the heart’s anatomy using sound
waves (echos) that bounce off the cardiac structures. These returning
sound waves are computer-processed, and a two-dimensional image of the
beating heart is produced on a television screen. By “aiming” the
transducer, which is moved across the chest, the important cardiac
structures can be imaged by the echocardiogram. The echocardiogram is
also a good way to get a general idea of the overall function of the
heart muscle.
Transesophageal Echocardiogram
A
transesophageal echocardiogram can image heart structures that are
difficult to “see” from a standard echocardiogram test. As opposed to
the standard echocardiogram, in which the transducer is placed over the
chest wall, in transesophageal echocardiogram the transducer is passed
into the esophagus (the swallowing tube) and is positioned directly
behind the heart.
Stress Echocradiogram
The
stress test is used to evaluate the heart and vascular system before
and during exercise. It helps answer to two general questions: 1) Is
there underlying heart disease that only becomes apparent when the
heart is stressed by exercise? 2) If there is underlying heart disease,
how severe is it?
Carotid Ultrasound
The
carotid ultrasound is a painless and non-invasive technology which
provides images of the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck and
measures the velocity of the blood flow through these vessels.
Ultrasound can also be used to evaluate the body's major arteries and
veins in the abdomen, arms, legs and neck.
Nuclear Cardiology
Nuclear
Cardiology, or a heart scan, is a diagnostic test designed to detect
and evaluate heart disease. The test involves the injection of very
small amounts of radioactive material, followed by a fast, painless
scan of the heart and its surrounding blood vessels by a specialized
camera, which allows doctors to identify portions of the heart and
vessels with reduced blood flow.
Coronary Artery Scan (Heart Scan)
A
heart scan can reveal even minor problems which could not be detected
by physical examination, EKG or stress test. By detecting the build-up
of calcium deposits in coronary arteries earlier than any other
technology, the scan can predict the risk for potential heart attacks
or the need for cardiovascular evaluation and treatment. The heart
scan takes about 60 minutes. People with pacemakers should not have the
procedure.
Diagnostic Heart Catheterization
Cardiac
catheterization is a diagnostic procedure that involves the insertion
of a catheter (a long, thin, flexible tube) into the heart. The
catheter is introduced into the body through a vein or artery, usually
in the leg, and guided by the doctor toward the heart. The doctor uses
special x-ray equipment to monitor the progress of the catheter as he
maneuvers it through the vein or artery toward the heart.
Once
the catheter is inside the heart, the doctor is able to position it and
inject dye into the chambers and vessels of the heart. When viewed with
the special x-ray equipment, this dye allows the doctor to see the
pumping action of the heart, the function of the heart valves, and the
blood flow in the coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich blood to
the heart muscle.
Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
A
pacemaker is inserted when there are signs that the heart is not
beating fast enough or there is a problem with the normal electrical
signal, which causes your heart to beat. A permanent pacemaker consists
of a generator and leads which are usually implanted into the upper
chest through a small incision. The generator is a metal case
containing the power source and a timer that regulates how often the
pacemaker sends out electrical signals. The leads allow the pacemaker
to monitor the heart rhythm and to send out electrical signals to make
the heart beat when needed.
Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD)
An
implantable cardioverter defibrillator is a device that is implanted in
the chest to monitor for and, if necessary, correct abnormal heart
rhythms. They were developed originally to correct heart rhythms that
are too fast, but recent technological advances have increased the pool
of possible patients who may benefit from an AICD.
For more information about the heart, click link below:
American Heart Association
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