Our Tests
With early detection being such an integral part of helping patients reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke, the importance of the diagnostic procedures CANM’s skilled physicians and staff provide can’t be underestimated. Utilizing the latest in computer-assisted imaging technology, we perform a wide range of both invasive and noninvasive tests that serve to detect problems, determine the severity of a condition, inform the proper course of treatment, even assist in the execution of an interventional procedure.
The precise, proactive diagnosis of the underlying causes of heart disease can drastically improve a patient’s quality of life as well as their longevity. This is especially true in regard to individuals with genetic or inherited risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol, that run in families but often present no outward or physical symptoms.
CANM diagnostic procedures are also employed in the ongoing care of patients either determined to be “at risk” or who have had a heart attack, heart surgery or other heart procedures. As part of a comprehensive program custom designed to expedite recovery and prevent future cardiac emergencies, CANM tests are essential in helping patients with complex heart disease risk factors.
For more information, visit the American Heart Association’s Website.
Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
A quick and painless test that measures the electrical activity of the heart, an electrocardiogram provides your physician with two types of useful information.
Ambulatory Electrocardiogram
Ambulatory electrocardiogram, also known as Holter monitoring, ambulatory ECG, or ambulatory EKG, measures the heart’s electrical activity over longer periods of time.
Chest X-Ray
The most commonly performed radiographic exam, a chest X-ray is an image of a patient’s thorax. Affording a view of the heart, lungs, and bones of the spine and chest, it is regularly used to detect problems with these organs and structures inside the chest.
Echocardiogram
Also known as a cardiac ultrasound, an echocardiogram is a diagnostic sonography of the heart providing a wealth of helpful information, including the size and shape of the heart, its pumping capacity, and the location and extent of any damage to its tissues
Exercise Stress Test
Designed to gauge blood flow to the heart during physical activity, an exercise stress test gives your physician a good idea how well your heart handles work.
Cardiac Catheterization
With both interventional and diagnostic purposes, cardiac catheterization (heart cath) is the insertion of a thin plastic tube or catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart.
Nuclear Stress Test
Performed much like an exercise stress test, only a nuclear stress test or thallium stress test involves the injection of a radioactive substance into your bloodstream for imaging purposes.
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
A specific type of echocardiogram used to capture pictures of the heart’s valves and chambers for the evaluation of its pumping action, a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) differs from a standard echocardiogram in the way ultrasound waves are administered.
Tilt-Table Test
Commonly used to diagnose individuals who have experienced periodic loss of consciousness or recurrent fainting spells (syncope), the tilt-table test checks for changes in heart rate and blood pressure when the patient’s body position is changed.
Arrhythmia Monitoring
Arrhythmia symptoms can be erratic and fleeting. Often unusual cardiac episodes such as dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat or irregular heartbeat happens much too quickly and unpredictably to get to your physician in time for an accurate diagnosis.
Renal Angiogram
An angiogram, also known as an arteriogram, is an X-ray image of blood vessels performed to assess vascular conditions, including aneursym, stenosis, and blockages. A renal angiogram focuses specifically on the blood vessels of the kidneys.
Peripheral Angiogram
An angiogram, also known as an arteriogram, is an X-ray image of blood vessels performed to assess vascular conditions, including aneursym, stenosis, and blockages. A peripheral angiogram focuses specifically on the arteries that supply blood to your legs.
Carotid Angiogram
An angiogram, also known as an arteriogram, is an X-ray image of blood vessels performed to assess vascular conditions, including aneursym, stenosis, and blockages. A carotid angiogram focuses specifically on the arteries that supply blood to your head and neck.
Duplex Ultrasound
Duplex ultrasound combines Doppler flow information and conventional imaging information, sometimes called B-mode, to allow physicians to see the structure of your blood vessels.
Intracoronary Ultrasound
Performed in conjunction with cardiac catheterization, intracoronary ultrasound is an invasive procedure that uses high frequency sound waves (ultrasound) to create images of the heart and coronary arteries internally.
Cardiac CTA /Calcium Score
Cardiac CT utilizes this technology, with or without intravenous contrast material, to visualize the anatomy of the heart, coronary circulation, and larger blood vessels like the aorta, pulmonary veins, and the coronary artery.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
This device is used to detect ischemia and/or scar in patients. PET offers additional benefits in comparison to past forms of nuclear testing. As mentioned, the total procedure takes 30 minutes compared to 3-4 hours for nuclear testing. PET using rubidium-82 has less radiation exposure to the patient and staff.
Our Treatments
CANM, one of the largest single specialty groups in Mississippi, is widely recognized for its excellence in the treatment of coronary artery disease requiring percutaneous intervention. Our experienced medical team is accomplished at performing stenting and angioplasty procedures with superb results. What’s more, our interventional expertise also includes more traditional coronary bypass surgery and device implantation.
Our practice offers an extensive roster of interventional procedures for the treatment of common and complex forms of coronary artery disease, chronic angina, congenital and valvular heart disorders, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD). The vast majority of interventional procedures we perform are catheter-based and involve the use of small, highly specialized tools mounted on the tip of a catheter. Guided by technologically advanced imaging systems, these procedures often serve to clear blockages, restore blood flow to and from the heart and allow for revascularization. Another common purpose for our catheter-based procedures is the treatment of arrhythmias.
In combination with our advanced diagnostic capabilities, many of CANM’s therapeutic procedures are administered in our comfortable, convenient clinic locations. For more invasive procedures, our physicians enjoy privileges at a pair of nearby affiliated hospitals.
Angioplasty
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PCTA), angioplasty for short, is an invasive procedure performed to open narrowed segments or clear blockages in coronary arteries. Its objectives are the restoration of blood flow to blood-deprived heart tissue, the reduction in need for medication, and the elimination or reduction of angina episodes.
Stenting
A less traumatic alternative to coronary bypass surgery, coronary artery stents are designed to be placed into the coronary arteries that lie on the surface of the heart and supply it with oxygen-fresh blood.
Atherectomy
A catheter-based procedure used to remove plaque from arteries, most frequently the coronary arteries, atherectomy may be performed prior to other catheter-based techniques such as balloon angioplasty and stenting.
Thrombectomy
Thrombectomy is the removal of an abnormal or dangerous thrombus (blood clot). A percutaneous thrombectomy is perfomed intraluminally (directly in the cavity of the vessel) using a balloon catheter.
Coronary Bypass
The most commonly perfomed surgery in the U.S., coronary artery bypass graft surgery (also called CABG or “cabbage”) is a procedure that reroutes and restores blood flow to the heart muscle.
Embolization
A minimally invasive alternative to surgery, embolization is undertaken to prevent blood flow to a specific area of the body. Endovascular coil embolization is a standard treatment for patients who have a brain aneurysm but who are at high risk for complications from the surgical repair of the aneurysm.
Atrial Septal Defect Closure
Atrial septal defect (ASD), often referred to as a hole in the heart, is literally a hole in the septum (wall) that separates the heart’s left and right upper chambers (or atria). The defect is frequently discovered in childhood, but may also be diagnosed later in mature adults. If undetected or untreated, it results in the inefficient pumping of already-oxygenated blood back to the lungs.
Anti-Arrhythmic Therapy
Designed to suppress arrhythmias by treating their underlying cause, preventing conditions that contribute to arrhythmias, and managing arrhythmia symptoms, these medications include a category of drugs referred to as anti-arrhythmic agents, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and digitalis.
Lipid Reduction Therapy
Many individuals with LDL (bad) cholesterol require the additional assistance of medication. Depending on your LDL (bad) cholesterol level and your other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, your physician may prescribe one of a variety of cholesterol-lowering drugs on the market today.
Anti-Coagulant Therapy
These medications help prevent existing blood clots from growing larger, and prevent the formation of new blood clots by increasing the amount of time it takes a blood clot to form. Aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin®) and heparin are commonly prescribed examples.
Carotid Stenting
A procedure in which a slender, metal-mesh tube (stent) is expanded inside the carotid artery to increase blood flow in areas blocked by plaque, carotid stenting is accomplished during balloon angioplasty.
Pacemaker Implantation
A device that sends small electrical impulses to the heart muscle to maintain a suitable heart rate or to stimulate the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles), a pacemaker is a battery-powered device that sends electrical signals to your heart to help it beat at a proper rate or “pace”.
Radiofrequency Ablation
A nonsurgical procedure used to treat specific types of rapid heart beat arrhythmia, radiofrequency ablation utilizes a special form of energy that, when delivered through the tip of a special catheter placed inside the heart, results in laser-like precision destruction of abnormal electrical tissues.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Implantation
An electronic device that constantly monitors your heart rate and rhythm, an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) can detect a fast, abnormal rhythm and deliver a small electric impulse to the heart muscle, causing it to beat in a normal rhythm again.
Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
A minimally invasive procedure, the physician guides a catheter with an electrode at its tip to the area of heart muscle where the damaged site is located.
Congestive Heart Failure Therapy
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is an imbalance in pumping function in which the heart fails to adequately maintain the circulation of blood. CHF does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. It means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way it should.
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