Services
General Services
Electrophysiology
Stress Testing
CT Scans
Cardiac Ultrasound/Echocardiography
Vascular Ultrasound
Hospital Services
Cardiac Ultrasound/Echocardiography
- Cardiac Shunt Study
For patients who may have a hole or another abnormal communication between the heart chambers, a shunt study may be requested.
This is a normal echocardiogram study performed as described above. In certain circumstances an intravenous (IV) catheter may be inserted in the patient’s arm, and an injection of a few teaspoons of agitated saline solution may be administered. This is called a “bubble study” and helps determine if there is in fact an abnormal communication between the heart chambers. Aside from minor discomfort associated with insertion of the IV, the bubble study is not painful, and takes only a few extra minutes.
