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(702) 384-0022
(702) 384-0022
Cardiovascular consultation is the first step to ensuring better health for your heart. It is usually requested by your primary care physician or another specialist seeking more information from a provider specialized in cardiovascular medicine. This consultation may be for many different reasons, such as exploring a known diagnosis, treating an unknown diagnosis with new symptoms, managing a chronic condition, for a pre-operative cardiac clearance, or for a second opinion.
This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax.
It is done routinely in patients who complain of chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, or shortness of breath. This non-invasive, quick, and easy test determines heart rate, irregularities in rhythm, and also identifies a heart that is enlarged or damaged. Electrodes are placed on your chest and legs which captures electrical signals of your heart and records it to paper.
It uses sound waves to create images of the heart, recorded on a computer. The images determine the size of the heart, strength of the heart muscles, presence of heart diseases, and heart valve malfunctions.
Determines the functioning of the heart under stress. You will be asked to walk on a treadmill or you will be given a medication to “stress” your heart while images are being taken of you heart. It is mainly done to detect the cause of chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, or fluttering in the chest.
It is commonly done for patients who have signs of coronary artery disease. X-ray images examine the blood vessels or chambers of the heart for plaque or other problems. A catheter (thin, flexible tube) is inserted into the blood vessels in the upper thigh and moved to the heart. A contrast dye is then injected into the blood to make the blood vessels visible.
Providing your previous medical records helps us become completely informed about your current health status. You can request to have your medical records sent directly to our office prior to your appointment or you can bring them with you on the day of your appointment.
We recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment so you have time to complete any necessary patient forms.
Always bring your current health insurance card to your appointments along with a government-issued identification card such as a driver’s license. Please let the registration staff know if your insurance has changed or any personal information.
It is important to your care to have a list of your current prescriptions and any over-the counter-medications you are taking. Your cardiologist will review the list and make any necessary adjustments based on your current diagnosis and symptoms.
Be prepared to ask questions and voice any concerns you have. It is important to us to hear from you, and also provide you with information to help you make healthy lifestyle choices.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact one of our offices at least 24 hours before your appointment.
This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body. This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body.
This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax.
The Heart Center of Nevada electrophysiology department is overseen by specialized cardiologists who have undergone extensive education and training in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac electrical disorders.
A normal heart rhythm is dependent on a healthy electrical system of impulses from one part of the heart to the other. These impulses cause the heart to contract and relax, pumping blood to the body and vital organs. Disturbances in this electrical system may cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or beat irregularly (arrhythmia). You may have symptoms like palpitations, dizziness and even fainting. These symptoms could indicate the need for additional testing.
Your doctor will discuss any current symptoms you are having, along with any risk factors or lifestyle habits that could be contributing factors. Further testing such as a tilt table test and electrophysiology studies may be suggested as a way to make a clear diagnosis. Based on results of these tests, your doctor could recommend the insertion of a pacemaker or defibrillator, cardioversion or even a cardiac ablation of the part of the heart anatomy that is malfunctioning.
Main Office: (702) 384-0022
Your pacemaker or defibrillator has the ability to communicate through the skin with a special computer we have in the office. We perform an interrogation of the device by placing a wand over your chest where the device is located. It takes only 10 or 15 minutes. Please call any office to schedule an appointment. Be sure to tell the technician what type of implanted device you have.
After a device is implanted, it needs to be monitored regularly. We routinely evaluate the programming of your device and confirm that the battery and wires (leads) are functioning appropriately and meeting your needs.
One of our trained technicians will place a wand over your device that is linked to a special computer. When the computer and the device communicate, valuable information can be obtained from the memory of your device and we can change the programmed settings if needed.
Typically we start by evaluating the remaining lifespan of the battery and we can usually give you some idea about how long the battery will last. We test the function of the leads and make sure they conduct electricity both to and from your heart. We can also modify the programmed parameters to better suit your heart’s individual needs. If you have any questions or concerns about your pacemaker or defibrillator please bring them up and we can address them.
No preparation is needed. In the office, our staff will have the necessary equipment to check your pacemaker or defibrillator. At home, you will also have special equipment to transmit tracings over the phone.
It is a very quick and safe procedure with little or no risk. You may feel some mild lightheadedness with the interrogation and testing of your device.
Cardiac arrhythmia is one of the common heart disorders and is a condition of an irregular rhythm or heart beat. A slow heart rate is called bradycardia and a fast heart rate is known as tachycardia. The common symptoms of heart rhythm problems include palpitations, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. To assess the impaired cardiac rhythms various rhythm monitoring procedures are used, including:
Holter monitor is a portable ECG recorder that can be worn throughout the day. Electrodes are placed on your chest, electrical signals from the heart are recorded and stored in the Holter monitor. You will be advised to note down your activities and symptoms such as rapid heartbeats, dizziness or fainting episodes. After the test is complete, the Holter monitor is connected to a special computer that can analyze the recording.
This device is similar to a Holter monitor and is worn during normal daily activities. It is worn for a longer period and is used to monitor arrhythmias that are less frequent. Electrodes are placed on to your chest and wires from the electrodes are attached to a box which is worn on the belt. When symptoms are felt, a button should be pressed which activates the recorder. The monitor will record the events that occur 60 seconds before the button is pressed to about 40 seconds after the arrhythmia.
This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body. This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body.
This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax.
This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body. This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body.
This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax.
A vascular ultrasound provides images of the arteries or veins throughout the body. The most common reason for a venous ultrasound is to search for blood clots, especially in the veins of the leg. This condition is known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). These blood clots can break off and move into the lungs, where they can cause a dangerous condition called pulmonary embolism. If the blood clot is found early enough, treatment can be started to prevent it from moving to the lung. An arterial ultrasound is used most often to detect the presence and location of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), narrowing of the arteries supplying the legs.
Your veins return blood to the heart. There are two sets of veins in the legs, deep and superficial. As you walk, calf muscle movement pushes blood upward and one-way valves in the veins prevent blood from flowing back into your feet.
Your arteries carry blood rich in oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body. When the arteries in your legs become blocked, your legs do not receive enough blood or oxygen, and you may have a condition called peripheral artery disease (PAD). It can cause pain in your hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, shins, or upper feet when you walk.
A Doppler ultrasound study may be part of a venous or arterial ultrasound examination. Doppler ultrasound is a special ultrasound technique that evaluates blood flow through a blood vessel, including the body’s major arteries and veins to help evaluate:
Please allow 30 to 45 minutes for the exam but it oftentimes takes less time. It is easy, painless and relatively harmless. Your technician will ask you to undress from the waist down and lay flat down on an examination table. A warm gel is applied to the area being examined and a small wand (transducer) will be firmly pressed on the area. The transducer will record the flow of the blood through your blood vessels and displayed on a computer screen. You can return to your normal activities immediately following the exam unless your cardiologist has instructed otherwise.
Once your test is evaluated, your cardiologist will discuss the results with you and what they mean to your health. If a definitive diagnosis can be made, treatment may be initiated. In some cases, further testing may be necessary to further evaluate abnormal findings.
This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body. This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body.
This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax.
Venous insufficiency is a common condition in which the flow of blood from the legs back to the heart is abnormal. This lack of an upward flow back to the heart causes blood to pool in the legs, causing everything from unsightly varicose veins, lower extremity swelling, discomfort, a brownish discoloration in the lower legs, and venous ulcers.
Venous ablation is the latest technology helping to alleviate patient symptoms associated with venous insufficiency. Venous ablation eliminates the abnormal vein by sealing it closed since it is no longer effective because it has lost the ability to direct blood flow in the correct direction.
Venous ablation surgery is performed at our Shadow Lane office by one of our specially trained cardiologists under ultrasound guidance. The procedure takes approximately one hour with minimal discomfort, and no significant down time. There may be some mild to moderate discomfort for a week to ten days, but over-the-counter medications are generally effective.
The venous ablation procedure improves blood flow immediately. However, it may take a few weeks for the original symptoms to go away, and large varicose veins may need some additional minor treatment.
A myocardial perfusion scan examines the blood flow to your heart at rest and while your heart is working harder as a result of exertion or a special medication. The test provides images that can show areas of low blood flow through the heart that may need additional treatment. Heart Center of Nevada is able to perform this test right in our office by trained technicians being overseen by our board-certified cardiologists.
If you are having chest pain, your cardiologist may recommend a perfusion study as a way to take a closer look at the blood vessels that supply the heart. This test allows clinicians to see if any of your coronary arteries are blocked, which can lead to chest pain. If so, they may recommend further interventions to open the blocked arteries such as an angiogram.
Your test will take place in our Nuclear Medicine room. The testing area is supervised by a cardiologist. The test involves taking two sets of images of your heart — one while you’re at rest and another after you heart is “stressed” by medication (radioactive tracer).
In a myocardial perfusion scan the lab technician will inject a radioactive dye into your bloodstream to either speed up the heart rate or dilates the arteries. When the peak heart rate is reached, the patient is injected again with a medication through an IV that increases blood flow to your heart muscle — simulating what exercise does — for the test. Depending on which medication is used, possible side effects may be similar to those caused by exercise, such as a flushing or shortness of breath. As soon as it has circulated throughout the bloodstream the gamma camera takes more pictures. This phase of the procedure is called the “stress scan” of the heart. The camera will record images that show blood flow through your heart during exercise. These images will be compared to the first set.
DO NOT eat or drink anything after midnight the day of the test. If you must take medications, drink only small sips of water.
Avoid all products that contain caffeine for 24 hours before the scan because it can interfere with test results. This includes coffee (caffeinated and decaffeinated), tea, soft drinks, and most chocolate products.
DO NOT smoke the day of test, as nicotine will interfere with the results.
Please bring a copy of all of your medications, including over-the-counter medications and supplements you routinely take, to the appointment. You can review and print the forms at the top of the page for more information. Please follow these guidelines about taking your medications the day of the test:
DO NOT take any over-the-counter medication that contains caffeine for 24 hours before the test.
DO NOT take theophylline (Theo-dur) for 48 hours before the test. Please bring your asthma inhaler medication to the test.
If you take insulin to control your blood sugar, ask your cardiologist how much insulin you should take the day of the test. Your cardiologist may tell you to take only half of your usual morning dose and to eat a light meal four hours before the test. If you take pills to control your blood sugar, do not take your medication until after the test is complete. Bring your diabetes medications with you. Do not take your diabetes medication and skip a meal before the test. If you own a glucose monitor, we recommend you bring it with you to check your blood sugar levels before and after your test. If you think your blood sugar is low, tell the technician immediately. Plan to eat and take your blood sugar medication following your test.
DO NOT take the following heart medications on the day of the test unless your cardiologist tells you otherwise, or unless it is needed to treat chest discomfort the day of the test:
If you have any questions about your medications, please call any office before your test. Do not discontinue any medication without first talking with your cardiologist.
Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
We ask that you call our office to cancel or reschedule your scan at least 24 hours prior. You may be charged a fee if not because the medication ordered cannot be used on another patient.
The myocardial perfusion scan has the ability to identify:
After the cardiologist reviews the images from your scan, the results will go into your electronic medical record. A follow-up appointment will made to discuss your results. Your referring physician will also have access to the results.
A treadmill stress test, sometimes called an exercise stress test, is used to help your cardiologist determine how well your heart handles small amounts of exercise. As your body is forced to work harder during the test due to walking, the heart must pump more blood because of an increased need for oxygen.
This procedure usually takes about 45 minutes. You will be hooked up to a monitor that is continuously monitoring your heart rate and rhythm. The treadmill will begin moving slowly and will also be put on a small incline. This allows for determining your heart’s ability to handle having to work.
You only need to wear comfortable clothing and sneakers appropriate for walking. You do not have to fast or restrict any medications.
The test can show if the blood supply is reduced in the arteries that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood. This will allow your cardiologist to better understand any chest pain you are experiencing. It can also set a safe level of exercise to promote a better heart health.
An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart. This commonly used, non-invasive test allows your doctor to see how your heart is beating and pumping blood. Your cardiologist can use the images from an echocardiogram to identify various abnormalities in the heart muscle and valves.
This exam can be done right in our office. Our echocardiography lab is accredited in transthoracic echocardiography by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC). IAC accreditation ensures that our staff follows strict standards, enabling us to provide consistent quality testing for our patients. All of our technicians are registered adult cardiac sonographers; earning credentials from either the ARDMS or CCI credentialing organizations. Our lead technologist is registered by the ARDMS in both adult cardiac sonography and vascular sonography.
Your cardiologist may recommend an echocardiogram if you have any signs or symptoms of a heart problem such as shortness of breath or swelling in the legs. The test can look at your heart’s structure and check how well your heart functions, including the heart’s chambers, walls, and blood vessels.
We suggest you wear something comfortable. You can eat and drink before the test as you usually would. Take all your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Echocardiograms are done by our specially trained technicians in the office. The test takes often takes less than 1 hour.
An echo does not hurt and has no known side effects.
Your cardiologist will discuss your results either after the test or at a follow-up appointment.
A Multigated Acquisition (MUGA) scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test that creates video images of the movement of the blood through the heart during rest and exercise. It is a very accurate test that can pinpoint many heart conditions early on, which allows for early treatments and complication prevention. Heart Center of Nevada is able to perform this exam in our office with a nuclear medicine technologist who has been specially trained.
Your cardiologist may recommend a MUGA to evaluate the pumping action of the two lower ventricles in the heart, any abnormalities in the wall of the ventricles, or abnormal movement of blood between chambers
During the test, a small amount of radioactive tracer is injected into a vein. A special camera detects the radiation released by the tracer to produce computer-generated movie images of the beating heart. The MUGA scan is a highly accurate test used to determine the heart’s pumping function.
We suggest you wear comfortable clothes that can be easily removed. You can eat and take your medications as you normally would.
The potential risk for the low exposure of radiation during the exam is low compared to the benefits from the accurate results it can show. There is a rare, but potential risk of being allergic to the radiopharmaceutical given intravenously.
This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body. This service is a generally safe procedure used to treat certain health problems that medicines are not controlling or for side effects. These problems may be dangerous for you if they are not treated due to the risks. It can also help control the health and function of your body.
This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax. This procedure will be schedule ahead of time, as it needs to be performed in a hospital. You will be in the confortable state of being for the procedure the entire time but given the necessary medications to help you relax.