Reno, NV Heart Physician: Procedures

If you've read some of our other articles, you know that often when attempting to diagnose heart disease, it is essential to rule out everything possible. In order to rule out other conditions, tests must be performed and these tests can range from short to lengthy. Each test is performed by an NV heart specialist and is specialized to scan for something, whether it is the rhythm of the heart beat or the strength of the electrical impulses. One specific test, a myocardial perfusion is designed to look for coronary artery disease, which is a condition where plaque builds up on the walls of the coronary arteries. This plaque is usually made up of cholesterol, fat, and calcium. This plaque eventually ends up blocking blood flow which prevents oxygenated blood from reaching the heart, causing angina (otherwise known as a heart attack). Over time it can also cause arrhythmia and can weaken the heart muscle. At Reno Heart, a Reno, NV heart physician will perform a myocardial perfusion to look for symptoms of coronary artery disease.

Myocardial Perfusion: NV Heart Specialist

A myocardial perfusion is a procedure that is very similar to a treadmill test, yet yields much more information. An extremely small amount of a radioactive substance, called a radionuclide (or a tracer) is injected intravenously through the arm or hand. Images of your heart are then taken and you are asked to complete a standard treadmill test. After this test is over, a second tracer is given to you and a second set of images are taken. These two images are then compared and an NV heart specialist will then interpret the results.

The areas that have absorbed the tracer will appear differently than the areas that haven't, indicating blockages and other obstructions. The results of these tests are then forwarded to your primary Reno, NV heart physician.