Cardiac imaging in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
At Portsmouth Regional Hospital, our team offers a variety of heart imaging tests to our patients. Your cardiovascular care may involve one or more of the following procedures:
- Angiography
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrophysiology study
- Evoked potential testing
- Holter monitoring
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning/nuclear (molecular) medicine
- Pulmonary function testing
- Saphenous vein mapping
- Segmental blood pressures
- Stress tests
- Vascular testing
- Ultrasound
Cardiac scanning
We offer you access to cardiac scanning, an advanced computed tomography (CT) technology used to create a detailed picture of the heart. This comprehensive scan can provides early warning about calcifications and blockages in the arteries, giving you time to consult with a physician and take action to prevent a heart attack, cerebrovascular accident (stroke) or other serious conditions.
As a screening tool for people with no history of heart disease, the scan should never take the place of other diagnostic testing recommended by your doctor. This private-pay service isn't covered by health insurance.
Cardiac catheterization
Our team of cardiologists and interventional radiologists use cardiac catheterization to diagnose and treat many types of cardiovascular conditions. Using angiography, our experts can more accurately pinpoint blockages and prevent brain tissue damage.
Electrophysiology (EP)
Electrophysiology helps your doctor provide a complete diagnosis for abnormal heart rhythms. We offer EP studies, cryoablation and other forms of advanced treatment for heart arrhythmias.
Echocardiogram
Echocardiography uses high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to create moving images of the heart. Our cardiac care specialists at Portsmouth Regional Hospital review echocardiograms to assess the size, shape and motion of the heart to pinpoint heart muscles that aren't contracting properly. Echocardiograms can detect blood clots, fluid buildup around the heart, valve conditions and other heart problems.
This test allows your physician to look at your heart in motion and diagnose many heart issues. Images generated during the test are displayed on a computer screen and can be captured and saved as video or still shots.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) measures the electrical activity of your heart. Small electrical sensors, called electrodes, are placed on your skin to sense the heart's electrical activity. These electrical signals are turned into a graph that tells your doctor if your heart is beating normally.
The heart specialists at Portsmouth Regional Hospital use EKGs to help:
- Diagnose heart attacks, heart arrhythmias and other heart conditions
- Detect conditions that alter the body's balance of electrolytes (e.g., potassium and magnesium)
- Identify other problems, like medication overdoses
During an EKG test, a technician applies several small adhesive pads to your legs, arms and chest. These pads are connected to an EKG machine that records electrical activity.
