Protect yourself with a screening
Millions of men and women 60 and older are at risk for vascular disease and stroke. At least 50 percent of people with peripheral vascular disease report no symptoms. The vascular screening exam is a quick, painless, noninvasive test designed to help protect you from: peripheral artery disease (PAD), carotid artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
Early detection of vascular disease can prevent serious and even fatal outcomes. State-of-the-art equipment is used with sophisticated color-flow Doppler ultrasound technology, and you will receive an individual consultation to review your screening results.
Who should be screened?
Men over 60 and women over 65 who have at least one risk factor - smoking, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease or family history of AAA. The screening is also recommended for men and women over 55 with a family history of AAA.
Come to our free vascular screening, by appointment only. Ideal candidates should meet certain age and risk-factor criteria. Call 713-222-CARE (2273) to register.
Prevent a cardiac event
Interpreting test results is critical to the successful diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disorders. With a strong emphasis on delivering a quality experience for patients and physicians alike, the imaging professionals at Memorial Hermann are committed to providing high-quality, customized diagnostic services with the highest possible degree of accuracy.
Medical and professional staff view referring physicians as partners in the treatment process and keep them apprized of patient progress during diagnosis and treatment. Rapid results turnaround and prompt telephone consultation with radiologists ensure timely delivery of care. Find out more about the noninvasive cardiology and peripheral services available at Memorial Hermann.
Assess your heart health
Cardiac electrophysiology (EP) is the study of the heart’s electrical system. The electrophysiologists associated with Memorial Hermann are skilled cardiologists with advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal heart rhythms. They work with patients who have cardiac arrhythmias, including bradycardia, an abnormally slow or unsteady heart rhythm, and tachycardia, a sudden, rapid racing of the heart. They perform procedures ranging from accurate diagnosis of a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia to catheter ablation for a variety of heart rhythm disturbances. The hospital’s medical staff and employees are committed to patient safety, continuous innovation and quality, patient centered care.
Diagnostic Electrophysiology Studies
A diagnostic EP study tests the heart’s electrical conduction system. It evaluates the potential for changes in the normal sequence of your heart’s electrical impulses, which can cause abnormal rhythms. It can also pinpoint an arrhythmia and provide valuable information for treatment. The most common reasons a physician orders an EP study are to evaluate syncope, and to study underlying mechanisms for bradycardia, conduction disturbances and tachycardia.
During the study, electrode catheter wires will be inserted, usually through a large vein in the groin, and directed to your heart. The wires allow for electrical stimulation of the heart tissue and recording of the electrical conduction properties of the heart. Your heart will be stimulated to beat at different rates and patterns to determine if you have a tendency to experience life-threatening arrhythmias.
Most electrophysiology procedures take one to two hours but occasionally a study may last longer. You’ll remain sedated during the entire procedure, and your vital signs will be monitored continuously.
Ablation Tachyarrhythmias
Rapid rhythms of the heart (tachycardias) either originate in the ventricle (ventricular tachycardia) or from above the ventricle (supraventricular tachycardia), and typically result from reentry or ‘short-circuiting’ in the heart. Mapping and ablation of these ‘short circuits’ typically results in a cure of the tachycardia. Some forms of tachyarrhythmias, especially ventricular tachycardia, have the potential to rapidly deteriorate into more lethal arrhythmias. Such patients are candidates for ICD implantation. Many arrhythmias lend themselves to mapping and ablation. Intracardiac mapping is a tool that allows for a higher precision in performing ablations.
ICD Implantation
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are small, medical devices that are implanted in the chest below the collarbone. They continuously monitor heart rhythm through special wires that are inserted into the heart and are equipped to deliver electrical shocks to restore the heart’s normal rhythm and prevent sudden cardiac arrest. Most ICDs are equipped to record the heart’s electrical patterns in order to track abnormal rhythms. Your electrophysiologist can review the recording during check-ups to help plan your future care.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Many patients with heart failure remain symptomatic with effort intolerance and shortness of breath despite optimal medical therapy. Such patients often have enlarged hearts with out-of-sync contractions. Resynchronization therapy involves the insertion of pacing leads into the heart and a specialized pacemaker/defibrillator (biventricular ICD) to ‘instruct’ the heart to contract more synchronously. |
