Preparing for
General cardiology
Performed in the rooms
Assessment of cardiac symptoms, risk and overall heart function.
A general cardiology consultation is the starting point for most heart problems. It covers your history, your symptoms, an examination, and a review of any tests you have already had.
What to expect
- Bring your referral, a list of your current medications, and any previous test results or imaging you have.
- Allow time for an examination and an ECG.
- You will be told what the next step is before you leave, including whether any further investigation is needed.
Preparing for
Echocardiography
Performed in the rooms
Ultrasound assessment of heart structure, valve function and pumping performance.
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart. It shows the heart moving in real time — the chambers, the valves, and how well the muscle is pumping.
What to expect
- You will be asked to undress to the waist and a gown is provided.
- The scan usually takes around 30 to 45 minutes.
- You can eat, drink and take your usual medications beforehand.
- There is no radiation and no injection for a standard transthoracic study.
Detailed assessment of the coronary arteries without an arterial catheter.
Cardiac CT angiography produces a detailed picture of the coronary arteries using a CT scanner and an injection of contrast into a vein in the arm. It shows whether there are narrowings in the arteries, and how much calcium and plaque is present in the artery walls.
What to expect
- You may be asked not to eat for a few hours beforehand, and to avoid caffeine on the day.
- A cannula is placed in a vein in your arm for the contrast injection.
- Medication to slow the heart rate is commonly given, either as a tablet beforehand or through the cannula.
- The contrast injection often causes a brief warm sensation. This is expected and passes quickly.
- Cardiac CT involves exposure to X-rays. Whether it is the right test for you is part of the consultation.
Assessment of heart structure, function and the state of the heart muscle itself.
Cardiac MRI uses a magnetic field rather than X-rays. Its particular strength is tissue characterisation — it can say something about the state of the heart muscle itself, not only its shape and movement.
What to expect
- A detailed safety questionnaire is completed before the scan, covering implants, devices and previous surgery.
- The scan usually takes 45 to 60 minutes and you will be asked to hold your breath at intervals.
- The scanner is loud. Ear protection is provided.
- Contrast is often given through a cannula in the arm.
Preparing for
Rhythm assessment
Performed in the rooms
Investigation of palpitations, blackouts and abnormal heart rhythms.
Palpitations — the sensation of the heart racing, thumping or skipping — are extremely common, and most of the time they are not dangerous. The difficulty is that they are intermittent, so the challenge is catching the rhythm while the symptom is actually happening.
What to expect
- For a Holter monitor, several small electrodes are stuck to the chest and connected to a small recorder you wear under your clothes.
- You go about your normal day and keep a short diary of any symptoms and when they happened.
- The recorder is returned to the rooms afterwards and the recording is analysed against your diary.
