Forms
Preparing for your Visit
You may be asked to fill out some forms before your arrival. Done in advance, this can greatly decrease your wait time. You can download these forms online and have them filled prior to arrival to expedite your visit. In addition to your complete medical history, one of the most important pieces of information to provide your doctor is a complete list of medications (prescription and nonprescription, including over the counter) and their dosages.
During Your Visit
Your first visit will usually involve a consultation to discuss your cardiac concerns. During the course of that discussion, an evaluation will be conducted to determine the best course of testing or treatment, if necessary.
New Patient Registration Packet
Please download and fill in the pdf, and email the completed form to mgupta@sothlv.com.
Non Invasive Testing
Electrocardiogram
Uses an electrocardiographic (EKG) machine to evaluate the electrical activity generated by the heart at rest and with activity.
Holter monitor
A Holter monitor records a continuous EKG rhythm pattern (rarely a full EKG) for 24 hours or more. These monitors are used for suspected frequent rhythm abnormalities, especially ones the wearer may not recognize by symptoms.
Nuclear stress testing
A method of producing images by detecting radiation from different parts of the body after the administration of a radioactive tracer material.
Echocardiography
Uses an electrocardiographic (EKG) machine to evaluate the electrical activity generated by the heart at rest and with activity.
Event monitor
An Event monitor records short term EKG rhythm patterns, generally storing the last 2 to 5 minutes, adding in new and discarding old data, for 1 to 2 weeks or more. There are several different types with different capabilities.
Noninvasive Arterial and Venous Duplex Studies
Noninvasive arterial and venous duplex studies are performed to detect the presence, location, and severity of arterial and venous vascular diseases. These are the basic, cost-effective and painless procedures performed using Doppler ultrasound techniques.
Duplex ultrasound uses sound waves to detect how blood flows through the blood vessels and to reveal any blockages. Duplex ultrasound combines traditional ultrasound with Doppler ultrasound.
Interventional Cardiology Procedure
Interventional cardiologists are board-certified cardiologists who utilize catheter-based treatment for heart diseases. These procedures involve inserting thin catheters, or flexible tubes, through small punctures in the skin which are then threaded through blood vessels to clear blockages in the artery.
Interventional cardiology offers many patient benefits, including decreased risk of infection and shorter and less painful patient recovery when compared to invasive open surgery.
Types Interventional Cardiology Procedures
Cardiac Catheterization
This procedure is used to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions or to determine if heart surgery is needed. A special kind of dye is often inserted in the catheter and introduced to the bloodstream for diagnostic tests.
Coronary carotid and peripheral stenting
This procedure involves using stents, which are small stainless steel tubes, to hold the artery open. They can be placed within the vessels.
Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting
In this procedure, the interventional cardiologist threads a ballooned catheter through an artery and into the heart vessels.
ASD and PFO closures
Most of these treatments involve a cardiac catheterization to place a closure device for a hole in the heart chambers. This procedure is used to prevent strokes and heart attacks (myocardial infarction).