Heart and Vascular Services

Screening and Diagnosis

Get Heart Smart: Protect Yourself with a Screening

Millions of adults are at risk for vascular disease and stroke. At least 50 percent of people with peripheral vascular disease report no symptoms. Screenings can help identify risk factors that lead to stroke and other vascular issues before these events occur.

Memorial Hermann and Life Line Screening have teamed up to provide vascular screenings to the greater Houston area. As the nation's largest provider of vascular screenings, Life Line screenings help prevent the first- and third-leading causes of death in the United States – heart disease and stroke.

Vascular screenings are held regularly on Memorial Hermann campuses and at various community sites. Call 800.690.0289 for additional locations or to schedule your appointment.

WHO SHOULD BE SCREENED?

If you are over 45 and have at least one risk factor for vascular disease – smoking, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease or family history of AAA – you should consider screening.  Early detection of vascular disease can prevent serious and even fatal outcomes. Vascular screenings are quick, painless and noninvasive tests.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening
An ultrasound is used to visualize the abdominal aorta, the largest artery in the body, to measure the diameter of the aorta. This measurement can indicate if there is a weakening in the aortic wall which can cause a ballooning effect known as an aneurysm. Aneurysms can burst, which generally can be fatal.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Screening
PAD is also known as hardening of the arteries. Sufferers have a five- to six-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Risk is evaluated through a measurement called the Ankle-Brachial Index, which is obtained by reading the systolic pressure in the ankle and arm.

Carotid Artery Screening
This painless, non-invasive Doppler ultrasound is used to visualize the carotid arteries, the arteries that bring blood to the brain. The majority of strokes are caused by plaque build up in these arteries.

Atrial Fibrillation (Heart Rhythm) Screening
Standard medical ECG (electrocardiograph) equipment is used to detect atrial fibrillation (Afib), the most common "serious" heart rhythm abnormality. Afib increases the risk of stroke five-fold and can also lead to heart failure or heart attack.

Complete Lipid Panel
A simple finger stick blood test measures three different kinds of lipids in the blood – LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. This test requires eight hours of fasting.

Glucose
A simple finger stick blood test measures blood sugar levels to assess diabetes risk. This test requires eight hours of fasting.

High-sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hs-CRP)
A simple finger blood test can detect very low levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. CRP is released into the blood in response to the inflammation of blood vessels that accompanies coronary artery disease. CRP levels may be an even better predictor of heart attack or stroke risk than cholesterol levels.

Screenings are held regularly on Memorial Hermann Campuses and at various community sites. Call 800.690.0289 for additional locations or to schedule your appointment. Vascular screening packages start at $139. Individual tests are as low as $45.

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

If the results from your vascular screening tests indicate the need for further evaluation, your physician may recommend some of the following tests:

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
This test records electrical signals as they travel through the heart. Electrode patches are applied to the arms, legs and chest. The electrodes are connected to a machine that displays the heart’s electrical activity, allowing physicians to look for patterns among the heartbeats and rhythms.

The test is painless, lasts fewer than 10 minutes and provides the physician with valuable information about the electrical function of the patient’s heart.

Echocardiogram

Using ultrasound to examine the heart’s size, shape and motion, this test is used to detect possible abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias) or defects that could cause a stroke. There are several types of echocardiograms:

Transthoracic Echocardiogram
By creating an image of the heart that is more detailed than an X-ray, this noninvasive test is used as a baseline to:

• Evaluate the size of the heart
• Evaluate the heart’s valves and chambers
• Detect abnormalities or presence of heart disease
• Evaluate cardiac function after a heart attack

Transesophageal Echocardiogram
This more invasive test requires a device called a transducer be inserted down the throat into the esophagus. Because there is no interference from the lungs and chest, these images are clearer than those obtained with the transthoracic echocardiogram.

Stress Echocardiogram
During this test, an echocardiogram is performed while the patient uses a treadmill or stationary bike. Performed both before and immediately after exercise, the test can assess how the heart performs under stress. It can reveal parts of the heart that may not be receiving adequate blood or oxygen because of blocked arteries.

Dobutamine Echocardiogram
Patients who are unable to exercise are given dobutamine, an intravenous medication that causes the heart to beat faster, mimicking the effects of exercise.

Tilt Table Test
This test may be ordered for those who have been experiencing lightheadedness, dizziness, or blacking out. The patient is placed on a table that tilts up to a standing position, allowing physicians to evaluate the body’s cardiovascular response to this change in position. Blood pressure and heart rate are monitored during the test.

Holter Monitoring
This technology allows for continuous recording of the heart’s electrical activity while you go about your daily activities. It helps physicians diagnose abnormal heart rhythms and develop the most effective treatment plan.

Event Recorder
Like the holter monitor, an event recording is used to record heart rhythm during daily activities. When you feel symptoms, you press a record button and the device records and stores the heart’s electrical activity. The information can be sent to the EP lab over the phone.

Nuclear Medicine
This test is used to evaluate blood flow to the heart while resting and after exercise. A small amount of radioactive tracer is injected into the vein. A gamma camera takes pictures of the heart to indicate which areas are not getting enough blood or oxygen.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)
During a PET scan, small amounts of radioactive molecules are used to measure cellular or biological functions, such as blood flow or glucose metabolism.

Vascular Ultrasound
Vascular ultrasound is a noninvasive test used to examine blood flow and circulation in arms, legs and neck. It can also evaluate blood flow in the arteries, which signals presence, severity and location of narrowed area of the arteries.

Cardiac CT
Cardiac CT is a common noninvasive test used to:

• Detect aneurysms and dissections in the aorta
• Assess location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries
• Detect blood clots in the lungs
• Evaluate heart disease
• Detect pericardial disease

Since calcium is an indicator of coronary artery disease, the amount of calcium detected on a cardiac CT scan is a useful diagnostic test. The findings on a cardiac CT are expressed as a calcium score.

64 slice CT
This leading-edge technology provides cardiologists with highly detailed views of the heart and arteries. The 64-slice cardiac CT allows nearly all patients to be scanned with very high resolution. The system provides the ability to capture an image of the whole heart in just five heartbeats (5-13 seconds), so sick or elderly patients have to hold their breath for less time.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Cardiac MRI offers a detailed assessment of function and structure of the heart and vessels. The test is performed to:

• Detect and evaluate coronary artery disease
• Determine the extent of damage caused by a heart attack
• Detect the build up of plaque and blockages in the blood vessels

Cardiac Catheterization
Also known as an angiography, the cardiac catheterization is one of the most useful tools in diagnosing coronary artery disease, evaluating heart muscle function and determining the need for further treatment.

During the procedure, a thin catheter is inserted into the artery or vein of an arm or leg, and then guided to the heart with the help of a special X-ray machine. Dye is injected through the catheter and X-rays are taken of the heart chambers, arteries and valves.

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