Viability testing uses imaging scans to give you a detailed summary about the function of your heart. Cardiac PET Partners in Encino, CA offer stress testing and viability testing to diagnose or monitor conditions that cause declining or faulty heart function. To learn more and how it works please call Cardiac PET Partners or book an appointment online today.
Viability testing is one of many heart tests you can get at Cardiac PET Partners. It can help with making a diagnosis of various heart conditions and can assist with tracking the health of your heart over time.
Viability testing is also called a cardiac viability scan. It combines two types of medical scan: a positron emission tomography (PET) scan and a computed tomography (CT) scan.
Together, the two imaging scans produce images of your heart muscle that allow your provider to evaluate the function of your heart and diagnose or monitor conditions affecting it.
There are several reasons why your physician might refer you to Cardiac PET Partners for viability testing. The scan evaluates your heart’s blood supply as well as how well the heart muscle works, which is your heart’s viability.
You might benefit from viability testing if you experience symptoms of a heart-related condition or have a history of heart problems. Possible heart-related symptoms you shouldn’t ignore include:
If you have symptoms like these, your primary care provider or a specialist might refer you to Cardiac PET Partners for detailed viability testing. The results of your test can help guide your treatment.
When you visit Cardiac PET Partners for viability testing, there are a few steps you can expect. Your provider places an intravenous (IV) line in your arm and takes a sample of your blood to send to a lab. Throughout the test, they prick your finger multiple times to check your blood sugar.
When it’s time for the test, you lie down on an examination table. Through the IV line, your provider gives you rubidium-82, which is a tracer that allows your organs and tissues to show up in detail on the scans. The PET/CT scanner takes pictures of your heart for about 15 minutes.
After a short waiting period and another blood sugar test, your provider might ask you to repeat the scans. They check your blood sugar one final time before you leave, and your results are available within a few days of your visit.
For more information on viability testing for your heart, call Cardiac PET Partners or book an appointment online today.