Nuclear Cardiology Scan

Nuclear Cardiology is one of the important specialties in non-invasive imaging in cardiology practice. Its contribution to patient care and management is substantial and continuously improving over time. We started our Nuclear Cardiology service in 1992 and since 2001 we have been performing more than 1500 procedures annually. We cater for our own institution as well as those requests from other hospitals in malaysia. Essentially, this non-invasive imaging is using a radioisotope with short half-life (Technetium99m) which is introduced intravenously for the stress and rest scans.

Multiple pictures or images – Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) are taken at different angles over a period of time. The software will enable us to compile, process and produce cine images that will be read by our Cardiologist or Visiting Radiologist. Nuclear Cardiology is currently one of the gold standards to safely evaluate patients with suspected coronary artery disease. It is a functional assessment to check adequacy of coronary blood flow. This study has a 90% Sensitivity and 85% Specificity in identifying underlying coronary artery disease.

IIn June 2007 Institut Jantung Negara has upgraded and installed a new Dual Detector Gamma Camera, GE VENTRI SW VERSION: 1.004.040.0 which is a dedicated cardiac system with upgraded software’s that will enable us to acquire images faster and provide additional data that will further assist in this non-invasive cardiac assessment. Institut Jantung Negara is proud to acquire this system in the Asia region thus demonstrating our seriousness in striving to live up to the expectation of being a centre of excellence in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and commitment to offer the very best in cardiac imaging to our patients.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

BEFORE

• Your physician will schedule the examination and you will be given appropriate instructions as how to prepare for the examination.
• You must not have had any caffeine or carbonated drinks (coffee, tea, chocolate or coke) 24 hours before the day of the procedure.
• Any Beta blockers drugs, CCB and nitrates must be stopped 24 hours before procedure.

DURING

• An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted in your arm to facilitate the injection of isotope in order to visualize the perfusion of cardiac muscle.
• You will be positioned under the camera. During the scan you will feel the camera move around you.
• A cardiac angiographer, who is specially trained in the use and operation of Nuclear Camera, will perform the scan.
• The scan is approximately 10 minutes per session but the entire procedure may take about 6-8 hours. This will be due to Stress scan portion and Rest scan portion.

AFTER

• You can go home once the procedure is done and the IV line has been removed.
• Our specialized team of cardiologists will analyze the images after the images are reconstructed using a sophisticated computer program.
• There will be residue of isotope for approximately 2 days after the procedure. Thus, it is advisable for you to not be near pregnant women or young children after the procedure. If you are breast feeding, do not do so after the procedure.
• Please allow yourself a whole day for the procedure, though the examination can be completed earlier