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Diagnostic
Imaging:
Sparta Community Hospital Diagnostic and
Invasive Cardiology Services:
Dr. William Southworth
Sparta Community Hospital offers many
diagnostic cardiology services to help assess the condition of a patient’s heart
and coronary system. The tests listed below are all available at Sparta
Community Hospital, truly providing quality health care close to home.
Exercise Stress Test:
This test
is also called a treadmill or exercise test, and is used by your physician find
out how your heart responds to increased demands caused by exercise and physical
excursion. Aspects of this test include the following:
Such a Stress Test would be used to help diagnose coronary
artery disease, diagnose problems that may occur due to shortness of breath,
chest pain or lightheadedness. This test may be used to evaluate the
effectiveness of certain treatments. Your physician may consider this a
“gateway” test. He or She may use the results to recommend further testing.
Nuclear Stress Test:
This test works much like an exercise stress test with
one additional element. A small amount of radioactive substance will be
injected into your body just after you complete the exercise portion of your
test. This substance will not be harmful to your body or organs; however, it
will provide the physician with a picture of your heart and coronary artery
system in a procedure in which you will lie on a table and a gamma-ray camera
will take pictures of your heart and coronary system. These pictures will show
your physician if any parts of your heart are not working, either because of a
previous heart attack or blocked arteries. Often, your physician will ask you
to return in three or four hours, although you will be asked not to exercise or
consume any caffeine. After this period a second injection of radioactive
substance will be introduced. This will show your physician how your heart
reacts during a period of rest.
Holter Monitoring:
A Holter Monitor is used to record the heartbeat for 24
to 48 hours using a small device with a memory. This devise is very small and
works much like a regular ECG, however fewer wires are used. The devise is very
small and can be placed in a backpack or on a belt. If you experience any
unusual cardiac episodes during the time the monitor is running, you should
record the times of these events. This way your provider will be able to
compare the recorder with your notes. This type of test allows your physician
to follow you all day while you do your regular activities while you continue
with your daily routine.
Event Monitor:
An Event Monitor works much like a Holter Monitor except
its recording devise is triggered by the patient. You wear the devise and when
you feel a Cardiac irregularity you press a button that turns on the monitor.
The heart rate is recorded for the 60 seconds before the recorder is activated
and up to 40 seconds the arrhythmia is over.
EKG (Electrocardiogram) Test:
An EKG monitors the electrical system of the heart. As
you heart pumps blood it releases slight electrical impulses, which can be
monitored. This test is conducted by placing several electrodes at different
locations on the patient’s body. These electrodes send a signal to a
computerized devise, which will create a print out of your heart’s electrical
activity. These electrical impulses in the heart activate different parts of
the heart and direct them as to their duties. When parts of this system fail,
often a pace maker is used as a remedy.
Echocardiogram
(Also known as a Doppler ultrasound of the heart):
This test
uses Ultrasound technology to create a moving picture of your heart. This
provides your physician with a picture of your heart in action and does not
expose your body to any radiation. This test is conducted by a trained
sonographer, and uses sound waves, which are emitted from a transducer placed on
your chest. The pictures give your physician a view of the chambers of your
heart in action without an invasive procedure. If the view of your heart is
obstructed by pulmonary disease or obesity a small amount of dye may be used to
make the image of the heart stand out.
Cardiac Scoring:
Cardiac
Scoring uses the latest multi-slice CT technology, which is available at Sparta
Community Hospital. The CT scanner takes an image of the heart and surrounding
coronary arteries. This picture measures the amount of calcium that is present
in the arteries that are closest to the heart. A radiologist then reads the
exam and quantifies the results in the form of a number. A high number has
shown to be an accurate predictor of current and future cardiac disease. This
is a completely non-invasive procedure. This technology is available to the
public at a cost of $249.00, however this test is not yet covered by Medicare or
most private insurance plans.
Invasive Cardiac Procedures available at
Sparta Community Hospital
Dr. William Southworth, Cardiologist
Dr. Franz Charles, General Surgeon
Pacemakers:
Sparta
Community Hospital offers pacemaker insertion. A pacemaker is used to sense
your hearts rhythm and sends your heart’s electrical system a slight electrical
pulse, which causes the heart to beat in sync with its natural rhythm. This is
a relativity common surgical procedure. A pacemaker is placed under the skin,
most often just under the collarbone.
Implantable Heart Monitor:
Many times cardiovascular problems are not easily diagnosed. When an
elusive problem, such as fainting or very sporadic symptoms is the problem, an
implantable monitor may provide your physician with the information necessary to
treat you. Small, implantable monitors can me implanted just under the
skin of the chest. This procedure simple requires a local anesthesia and
can be done on an outpatient basis. This devise will work much like the
diagnostic equipment on a modern car and can review the hearts electrical
activity for over a year.
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