What is it

A transthoracic echocardiogram is a non-invasive scan that assesses the structures of the heart and how well your heart is working, by using ultrasound sound waves. 

Your doctor may recommend it for

• Heart valve problems
• Congenital heart disease
• Heart failure
• Abnormalities of the heart muscle
• Investigation of heart-related symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness or palpitations

What is it

A stress echocardiogram combines an electrocardiogram (ECG) with echocardiography, and evaluates your heart’s response to stress. The preferred and most natural way to induce stress is through exercise on a treadmill. If you’re unable to exercise, a medication called dobutamine may be used to stress the heart.

Your doctor may recommend it for

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve disease
• Heart failure
• Heart muscle disease

What is it

A transoesophageal echocardiogram involves inserting an ultrasound probe through your oesophagus under local anaesthesia and mild sedation. It provides a more accurate assessment of the heart, especially for parts that are not well visualised with the transthoracic echocardiography.

Your doctor may recommend it for

• Heart valve disease
• Left atrial appendage clots
• Infective endocarditis

Tumours in the heart

What is it

A CT coronary angiogram allows visualisation of your coronary arteries, allowing our radiologists to identify any blockages accurately. An iodine-base contrast dye will be injected into your vein as you are being scanned by a CT scanner.

Your doctor may recommend it for

Suspected coronary artery disease

What is it

During a Cardiac MRI, you lie on a table and slide into a machine. A special dye called gadolinium is injected to assess the heart.

Your doctor may recommend it for

• Heart scarring
• Abnormal protein buildup in the heart (Amyloidosis)
• Other infiltrative disease of the heart
• Congenital heart disease

What is it

Myocardial perfusion imaging identifies any areas of your heart where blood flow may be inadequate or scarred by a previous heart attack. After injecting a small amount of radioactive tracer into your vein, you will be put through a specialised scanner to detect how much tracer is taken up by different segments of your heart.

Your doctor may recommend it for

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart attacks
• Angina

What is it

A vascular ultrasound uses sound waves to scan and identify segments of narrowing in the blood vessel.  Common arteries that require a vascular ultrasound include the carotid arteries, lower limb arteries, kidney arteries.

Your doctor may recommend it for

• Stroke
• Claudication (calf pain on walking)