Cardiac MRI Allows Doctors to Look at the Heart Without Cutting: New York Methodist Hospital Among First in NYC to Offer the Innovative Test

A new noninvasive technique is taking some of the guesswork-as well as the legwork-out of diagnosing and preventing cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as the technique is called, is truly innovative because it allows doctors to view detailed images of the heart-without having to cut open the chest or thread a catheter through the veins or arteries.

Brooklyn, NY (PRWEB) April 7, 2007 -- A new noninvasive technique is taking some of the guesswork--as well as the legwork--out of diagnosing and preventing cardiovascular diseases. According to John Heitner, MD, director of advanced cardiac imaging at New York Methodist Hospital, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as the technique is called, is truly innovative because it allows doctors to view detailed images of the heart--without having to cut open the chest or thread a catheter through the veins or arteries.

"We're very excited to be among one of the only hospitals in New York City to offer this new noninvasive technology to help diagnose and treat heart disease," said Anthony Tortolani, MD, chairman of cardiothoracic surgery. "It has so many advantages for patients. It's highly accurate, versatile, and safe", added Dr. Tortolani.

According to Dr. Heitner, "the new technology can be used to evaluate chest pain and determine if a heart attack is or has occurred--in many instances, it can be quicker and more accurate than stress testing, electrocardiograms (ECGs) or other diagnostic techniques." MRI allow cardiologists to see if larger blood vessels are blocked and if there are plaques (build-ups of fatty and other materials) in the vessels, and whether they are stable or likely to rupture and cause a heart attack in the future. Recently, too, researchers have shown cardiac MRI can create movie-like images of the beating heart, so doctors can assess damage to the heart muscle while it's moving. This can help them evaluate how well the heart is pumping blood and whether the heart lining is swollen, so they can prescribe treatments. And it can be used to follow heart patients after they've had angioplasty or surgery.

How MRI Works
Cardiac MRI uses radiofrequency waves and a powerful magnetic field to create images of the heart on a computer screen. The MRI machine directs the waves at protons that form the nuclei of hydrogen atoms in the body, causing the protons to vibrate. These vibrations release a radiofrequency signal that can be converted by computer to form three-dimensional images. One of the major benefits of cardiac MRI is that it can often create these intricate pictures of the heart and blood vessels without injection of a contrast material, which requires the use of an intravenous line.

Key Questions and Answers about Cardiac MRI
Before you undergo any procedure, you need to know about its risks and benefits. Here, some of the most commonly asked questions about cardiac MRI:

1. Are there any risks associated with this test? Unlike X-rays and computed tomography scans, there's no exposure to radiation with MRI, so it's quite safe. However, doctors usually avoid performing the test in women who are less than 3 months' pregnant, so as not to harm a developing baby.

2. How do I prepare for an MRI? Make sure your health-care team knows about any iron-containing objects in your body--a heart pacemaker, an implanted defibrillator, an infusion catheter, metal plates, pins, screws, or surgical staples, or an intrauterine device. You may need a different kind of test because the magnetic field created by the MRI machine will pull on these objects. Also, be sure to remove any jewelry on the day of the test.

3. Will I need anesthesia or sedation? You won't need anesthesia, but some people who are anxious or claustrophobic might want to ask for a sedative so they can stay still in the MRI unit. According to the Radiological Society of North America, fewer than one in 20 patients requires a sedative.

4. How long does the procedure last? Anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. It depends on how many images your doctor needs. "Your job is to stay as calm and still as possible during the time the MRI machine is scanning," says Dr. Heitner. "But don't worry: If you have any concerns or questions during the test, you can talk to the technician or radiologist via an intercom."

5. Will I feel anything during the procedure? No, but you might hear some clanking and clicking noises. The MRI equipment can be noisy.

For more information, please call the New York Methodist Hospital Institute for Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery toll free at (866) 84-HEART (43278) or visit them on the web at www.nym.org

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MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) video