Cardiovascular Consultation

A cardiac consultation is an appointment with a cardiologist during which you can discuss your heart health, as well as any factors that may influence your cardiovascular health. This might be one of many reasons from concern over a known or possible serious cardiac problem to a more general evaluation. It might also include situations where you, your personal physician or your regular cardiologist wish you to have a confirmatory or second opinion.

Reasons to get a Cardiac Consultation:

• Patient has been referred to a cardiologist by his/her primary care provider.
• Patient has (or appears to have) a cardiovascular health problem.
• Patient is preparing for heart or vascular surgery.
• Patient has had a heart attack, stroke, or significant heart-related procedure.
• Patient is looking for a second opinion on an imaging test, diagnosis, or
  treatment plan.

What heart health issues may be addressed?

Any heart or vascular condition, whether acute or chronic, may be up for discussion during your cardiac consultation at Phoenix Heart Center. Have you been told by a physician that you may have a certain heart condition? Learn more about a few of the most common heart and vascular conditions and what you can expect out of your cardiac consultation at Phoenix Heart Center:

• Aortic aneurysms
• Arrhythmia (or dysrhythmia)
• Blocked arteries (heart, leg and neck)
• Cardiomyopathy
• Congenital heart diseases
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve disease
• Peripheral vascular disease

What happens during a cardiac consultation?

The consultation will begin with a short interview with the cardiologist. This is followed by the interpretation of the ECG or ECHO results. With this information, the cardiologist may already provide an initial or final diagnosis. However, if more information is required, the patient will undergo more tests and the schedule of these tests, as well as the follow-up consultation, will be provided. Additional tests can include blood tests, x-rays, or stress tests.

Once the cardiologist has all the information, the patient will be informed of the diagnosis and treatment options, which can include the following:

• Lifestyle changes, which may include smoking cessation, eating a healthy diet, and being physically active.
• Medications, which may include those that lower LDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and other risk factors.
• Certain procedures such as angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting.
• Cardiac rehabilitation.

What tests might a cardiac consultation include?

Testing is not always a part of a cardiac consultation. Below are a few common tests that may be conducted during your appointment or at a later date:

• Cardiac Angiogram
• Echocardiogram (including transthoracic and transoesophageal)
• Electrocardiogram
• (Radial First) Cardiac Catheterization
• Right Heart Catheterization
• Stress/ “Treadmill” Test

Once the results are obtained your cardiologist will design a plan for further evaluation or provide treatment. Your doctor may also suggest lifestyle modifications such as losing weight, increase physical activities, avoid smoking and chronic alcoholism and may also suggest cholesterol reducing medications. If you are diagnosed with coronary artery disease during the scanning, then your cardiologist will suggest for coronary revascularization through angioplasty with or without stenting or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). These surgeries will lower the cardiac risk such as myocardial infarction or death.