When you need it—and when you don’t

If you’re having surgery, you may wonder if you need an imaging test of your heart to make sure it is safe for you to have the surgery. The answer: Probably not. The imaging tests usually don’t help unless you are having heart surgery or have symptoms or risk factors for heart disease.

When are imaging tests needed before surgery?

You may need an imaging test before surgery if:

• You have a known heart condition, such as coronary artery disease or heart failure.
• You have possible symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain or trouble breathing.
• You are going to have some kind of majorsurgery, such as a knee or hip replacement.
• You are going to have a major surgery, such as bypass surgery for a blocked artery in your leg, and you have both of these other risks:
• • You have diabetes or kidney disease, or ahistory of coronary artery disease, heartfailure, or stroke.
  • You cannot walk a short distance or climbstairs without having pain or shortness ofbreath.

Troubles médicaux: Pre-Operative, Pre-Op assessment, Low-Risk Surgery

Examens médicaux: Chest X-Rays (CXR), Echocardiograms (Echo), TTE, Cardiac Stress Tests, Stress ECG Testing, GXT, Stress Imaging, Stress Nuclear, Stress MIBI, Stress Echo