Cardiac MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – Cardiac

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the structures within and around the heart. Cardiac MRI is used to detect or monitor cardiac disease and to evaluate the heart’s anatomy and function in patients with both heart disease present at birth and heart diseases that develop after birth. Cardiac MRI does not use ionizing radiation to produce images, and it may provide the best images of the heart for certain conditions.

Islamabad Diagnostic Centre (Pvt) Ltd. is offering Cardiac MRI studies first time in Pakistan with state of the Art GE 1.5 Tesla Signa Explorer Zero Helium Boil-off MRI, ultra-fast MRI for angiographic, cardio vascular and other advance studies. Powerful gradients, better slow rate, strong coils and homogenous magnet with advance array of robust pulse sequence enable technicians to record venous and arterial flow data.

What are some common uses of the procedure?

Cardiac MRI is performed to help your physician detect or monitor cardiac disease by:

• Evaluating the anatomy and function of the heart chambers, heart valves, size of and blood flow through major vessels, and the surrounding structures such as the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart).
• Diagnosing a variety of cardiovascular (heart and/or blood vessel) disorders such as tumors, infections, and inflammatory conditions.
• Evaluating the effects of coronary artery disease such as limited blood flow to the heart muscle and scarring within the heart muscle after a heart attack.
• Planning a patient’s treatment for cardiovascular disorders.
• Monitoring the progression of certain disorders over time.
• Evaluating the effects of surgical changes, especially in patients with congenital heart disease.
• Evaluating the anatomy of the heart and blood vessels in children and adults with congenital heart disease (heart disease present at birth).

How is the procedure performed?

You will be positioned on the moveable examination table. Straps and bolsters may be used to help you stay still and maintain the correct position during imaging. Devices that contain coils capable of sending and receiving radio waves may be placed around or adjacent to the area of the body being studied.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) leads (small sticky patches) will likely be placed on your chest to help the MRI machine synchronize the image acquisition with the beating of your heart. Men may require a small area of hair to be shaved from the chest in order to ensure that the small ECG patches will stick well. A respiratory gating belt, a device that helps the computer know how you are breathing at any given time, may be placed around your upper abdomen. Additionally, a small pulse monitor may be placed on your finger.

Your doctor may need to use a special dye to highlight your heart. This dye is a gadolinium-based contrast agent that’s administered through an IV. It’s different from the dye used during a CT scan. Allergic reactions to the dye are rare. However, you should let your doctor know before the IV is given if you have any concerns or a history of allergic reactions in the past.

You will be given breathing instructions and will be asked to hold your breath for short periods of time during the examination.

If you have a pacemaker or any sort of metal implant from previous surgeries or injuries, you may not be able to receive an MRI because it uses magnets. Be sure to tell your doctor about any type of metal implant from previous surgeries. These may include:

• Artificial heart valves
• Clips
• Implants
• Pins
• Plates
• Screws
• Staples
• Stents

When the examination is complete,

• You may be asked to wait until the technologist or radiologist checks the images in case additional images are needed.
• Your intravenous line will be removed.
• MRI exams generally include multiple runs (sequences), some of which may last several minutes.
• The entire examination is usually completed in less than 45 minutes once imaging has started, but may be shorter or longer depending on what the images show.
• If a child has been sedated or anesthetized for an MRI exam, recovery time ranges from approximately 30 minutes to two hours after the exam is completed.