| Jefferson Surgical Center physicians, specialists and surgeons are experts in evaluating and treating a wide variety of acute and chronic cardiac conditions. Our cardiac services include a full range of tests to help provide an accurate diagnosis. | Contact Information Jefferson Surgical Clinic Phone: (540) 283-6000 |
Some Conditions We Treat
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Types of Services
Our in-house testing facilities allow you to have the evaluation you need without a hospital admission. The specialized cardiac testing services we offer include:
Pre-surgical evaluation
In preparation for surgery, most patients undergo a general physical exam, blood tests and an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Echocardiography – Transthoracic and Transesophageal
An Echocardiogram is an ultrasound examination of your heart. This test is the same technology used to check on an unborn baby’s development. During a Transthoracic Echocardiogram, the handheld transducer, which gives off the sound waves, is placed on your chest. With a Transesophageal Echocardiogram, the transducer is inserted into the esophagus until it is near the heart.These procedures allow the doctor to evaluate structural heart abnormalities.
Stress Echocardiogram – Treadmill Test
Stress tests measure the amount of stress your heart can handle. This test is performed with a treadmill and echocardiogram. The patient will have several electrode patches placed on various areas of the chest which transmit the heart’s electrical activity to the electrocardiograph monitor. You will start walking on a treadmill as the monitor records your heart’s electrical activity. As the test progresses, the treadmill will go faster and becomes steeper to evaluate your level of exercise tolerance. Once the target heart rate is reached, an echo is performed to evaluate heart function after stress.
Holter and Event Monitoring
This test uses a portable monitor to record your heart’s electrical activity. Five electrodes are placed on the chest and attached to a small monitor. This test helps the doctor to diagnose abnormal heart rhythms. The monitor can be worn from one to twenty-one days.
INR Monitoring
An INR (International Normalized Ratio) test, or prothombin time (PT) is a blood test that determines the time it takes for your blood to clot. This is done to check the effectiveness of blood thinning medication or to check your clotting ability before surgery. The tests are generally done on a routine basis as determined by your doctor.
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