Cardiac Diagnostics

Patients requiring a cardiac outpatient procedure, suffering from a chronic cardiac condition, or experiencing an emergent situation such as a heart attack that requires hospitalization, ECHN’s heart and vascular services include a wide range of diagnostic procedures and advanced treatment options, as well as ongoing support for a healthy lifestyle.

Diagnostic Cardiac Services

We provide a number of diagnostic outpatient procedures for heart disease, and provide patients and physicians fast, accurate results.  All outpatient exams must be scheduled through Centralized Scheduling at 860.872.5150. All physician orders must be faxed to 860.474.1700 upon booking. Please ensure the patient is able to sign consent or are accompanied by a representative who is able to.  Diagnostic cardiology services include:

12 Lead Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An EKG is a short, non-invasive test that uses electrodes to record the electrical signals of the heart. This common test is used to detect issues and monitor your heart during exercise or a medical procedure.

Cardiac Nuclear Medicine
Cardiac Nuclear Medicine is a diagnostic imaging test that evaluates the heart for dis-ease or damage. After administration of a radioactive medication, a rotating camera captures a series of images.

Echocardiogram (Echo)
An echo, is a non-invasive external diagnostic test that uses sound waves to produce a live visual display of the heart. The results of this test allow doctors to see how the heart and its valves are working. It can be used to diagnose and monitor heart disease as well as reveal heart defects.

Holter Monitors
A Holter Monitor is a small, non-invasive wearable device that is worn by a patient for up to 24 hours in order to monitor the heart’s rhythm, recording a continuous EKG. If an electrocardiogram is inconclusive and unable to detect heart irregularities, a Holter Monitor can provide more information about the condition of the heart.

Stress Testing (Manchester Memorial Hospital)
A stress test examines how well your heart works during physical exertion or stress. Some heart issues are easier to diagnose when the heart is working hard or beating fast. The stress test usually involves walking on a treadmill or riding on a stationary bike while heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing are monitored. Doctors may recommend this test to diagnose coronary heart disease, heart rhythm problems or as a guide to treat heart disorders.

Tilt Test Testing (Manchester Memorial Hospital)
A tilt table test is used to evaluate the cause of unexplained fainting. The test can help determine if the cause is related to heart rate or blood pressure.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (Manchester Memorial Hospital)
A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is a special type of echocardiogram. It is usually done when your doctor wants to look more closely at your heart to see if it could be producing blood clots. Like an echocardiogram, the TEE uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to examine the structures of the heart.

Inpatient Services

When a patient is suffering from a chronic cardiac condition, or experiencing an emergent situation such as a heart attack that requires hospitalization, both Manchester Memorial Hospital and Rockville General Hospital are among the region’s leading destinations for emergency cardiac care. We offer all services listed above, if deemed necessay, on an inpatient capacity. With a team of board-certified cardiologists, we are able to diagnose and treat a variety of heart conditions including:

• Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
  • A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats don't work properly.
• Chronic Heart Failure (CHF)
  • A condition in which the heart has trouble pumping blood through the body. It may develop over a long period of time. Symptoms include shortness of breath, problems exercising, fatigue, and swelling of the feet, ankles, and abdomen
• Heart attacks/Myocardial Infarction (MI)
  • A heart attack (myocardial infarction) happens when the flow of oxygen-rich blood in one or more of the coronary arteries, which supply the heart muscle, suddenly becomes blocked, and a section of heart muscle can't get enough oxygen. The blockage is usually caused when a plaque ruptures.
• Rapid or slow heart rate
  • Tachycardia is the medical term for a heart rate over 100 beats a minute.
  • Bradycardia is a slow heartbeat. The resting heart rate is less than 60 beats a minute.