Providing New Forms of Advanced Cardiac Imaging to Find Heart Disease Sooner

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States with one person dying every 33 seconds according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s important to identify signs of heart disease early, as early detection and treatment can help slow its progression and significantly improve health outcomes.

MemorialCare Heart & Vascular Institute at Long Beach Medical Center offers advanced cardiac imaging which helps us diagnose heart disease sooner, helping to inform us of the best treatment plan for each of our patients. At MemorialCare, we offer personalized prevention programs, world-renowned physicians, leading diagnostic screenings, advanced treatment, rehabilitation and leading-edge research. As one of two hospitals with advanced cardiac imaging in the area, we are passionate about providing the highest quality of patient and family-centered care.

Advanced cardiac imaging elevates the level of care we can provide by showing us three-dimensional images of the arteries and helps us measure various aspects of cardiovascular function. Leading advanced cardiac imaging technology unique to Long Beach Medical Center includes coronary CT angiography, HeartFlow FFR CT Analysis, Cardiac MRI and transesophageal echocardiogram – all of which ensure more accurate and timely diagnosis.

Coronary CT angiography helps cardiologists diagnose plaque buildup on coronary arteries and can help detect coronary artery disease (CAD). This test helps us determine the degree of stenosis and amount of plaque buildup to further guide future interventions like stents or inform the patient of preventive strategies to prevent future heart attacks.

HeartFlow FFR CT Analysis is an artificial intelligence technology that analyses blood flow through the coronary CT images and determines if an intermediate stenosis is functionally significant. This test gives crucial information in understanding how blockages affect the heart that otherwise would only be available from riskier, more invasive testing.

Cardiac MRI is an imaging modality that uses a magnet to take pictures of your heart. The images are high-quality and we use it to accurately assess the function of the heart to determine what is the cause of heart failure in patients.

Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) uses a transducer (similar to a microphone) down the esophagus to send out ultrasonic sound waves. These waves bounce off the heart structures and back to the transducer, and the transducer sends those signals back to the computer, which displays as images of the heart and valves. This provides a clearer image of the heart because the sound waves go through skin, muscle or bones. We use TEE to guide procedures such as MitraClip’s, TriClips, PFO and left atrial appendage closures at our institution.

These forms of advanced cardiac imaging are only needed if a patient is showing signs of heart disease and requires a different imaging approach for a timely, accurate diagnosis. At Long Beach Medical Center, we provide the best form of imaging possible to accurately diagnose patients’ heart disease and start treatment as soon as possible.

Want to learn more about advanced cardiac imaging? Visit our heart page.