Special Instructions

We do ask that you refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes or scented lotions on the day of your appointment. There are no pretest dietary restrictions and you should continue to take any prescribed medications as normal, unless otherwise advised by your doctor.

Test Process

The entire test will take about 10 to 15 minutes.

An electrocardiogram is a safe and painless test done while you are lying face-up on an examination table. In preparation, a technician will place receptors on your chest, arms, and legs. Depending, the technician may have to shave areas of your skin (male patients) to help the receptors stick. Patients are provided with a gown for privacy.

Following an ECG, you may develop redness where the receptors were attached. This mild redness often goes away quickly and without treatment.

Patients are typically able to return to work or other activities immediately following an ECG.

Please arrive 10 minutes before your test to register at the reception desk. Bring your health card and your requisition form (if your physician has provided you with one).

Special Instructions

A Holter Monitor is a small, portable device that is worn while you do your normal daily activities in order to monitor the heart over a longer period of time.

Prior to being equipped with the Holter, we suggest taking a shower as you will not be able to shower during the period in which you are wearing the device (typically 24, 48 or 72 hours).

We do ask that you refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes or scented lotions on the day of your appointment. There are no pretest dietary restrictions and you should continue to take any prescribed medications as normal, unless otherwise advised by your doctor.

Test Process

Holter monitoring is a painless procedure. In preparation, a technician will place receptors on your chest, arms, and legs. Depending, the technician may have to shave areas of your skin (male patients) to help the receptors stick.

The technician will instruct you on how to record symptoms as they occur in a Patient’s Diary, which will be provided for you and requested by your technician when you return the device.

A Holter monitor is a delicate and expensive medical device. As such, you will be asked to sign a responsibility form to ensure that you will return the device on time and in working condition.

Following an ECG, you may develop redness where the receptors were attached. This mild redness often goes away quickly and without treatment.

Patients are typically able to return to work or other activities immediately following an ECG.

Please arrive 10 minutes before your test to register at the reception desk.

Special Instructions

Other than wearing loose-fitting clothing, there are no special restrictions or preparation prior to a 2D Doppler echocardiogram. Although the gel is water soluble and should not stain, it can be messy and could get on your clothing, so please be aware and dress appropriately.

We do ask that you refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes or scented lotions on the day of your appointment. There are no pretest dietary restrictions and you should continue to take any prescribed medications as normal, unless otherwise advised by your doctor.

Test Process

The test will take about 45 minutes.

You will be asked to remove your shirt and put on a gown to keep you comfortable and maintain privacy.

While lying on an examination table, a technician will apply a colorless gel to your chest and then a transducer will be moved back and forth across different areas to obtain multiple views of your heart.

You may be asked to move from your back and to the side. Instructions may also be given for you to breathe slowly or to hold your breath. This helps in obtaining higher quality pictures.

With Doppler echocardiograms, as the transducer moves over your heart, you will hear a “whooshing” sound, much like that of a washing machine. This sound relates to the movement of blood within your heart chambers.

The images are constantly viewed on the monitor and recorded for a permanent record of the examination. This is reviewed by the physician prior to completion of the final report.

Special Instructions

We ask that you wear comfortable clothes that you are able to move freely in, as there will be physical activity during the test.

We also ask that you refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes or scented lotions on the day of your appointment.

There are no pretest dietary restrictions and you should continue to take any prescribed medications as normal, unless otherwise advised by your doctor.

Test Process

Exercise Stress Testing usually lasts around 35 to 40 minutes.

A Cardiologist will be present during the test to supervise and provide guidance for the cardiac technologist, who will conduct the test. The cardiac technician will place receptors on your chest, arms, and legs. Depending, the technician may have to shave areas of your skin (male patients) to help the receptors stick. Patients will be provided with a gown for privacy.

You will then be asked to perform a series of exercises, such as walking on a treadmill. You will be encouraged to exercise for as long as you can as this increases the effectiveness of the test.

ECG images will be taken before and directly after the exercises.

An exercise stress test is generally a very safe procedure, although it may trigger chest pain or irregular heart rhythms in some. You will be advised to immediately notify the technologist if you experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath or light-headedness – medical staff and emergency equipment are on hand at all times.

Following an ECG, you may develop redness where the receptors were attached. This mild redness often goes away quickly and without treatment.

Patients are typically able to return to work or other activities immediately following an exercise stress test.

Please arrive 10 minutes before your test to register at the reception desk.

Special Instructions

Ambulatory blood pressure monitors are delicate and expensive medical devices. As such, you will be asked to sign a responsibility form to ensure that you will return the device on time and in working condition.

We do ask that you refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes or scented lotions on the day of your appointment.

There are no pretest dietary restrictions and you should continue to take any prescribed medications as normal, unless otherwise advised by your doctor.

Test Process

An ABP monitor is consist of an arm cuff and a monitor connected to each other by a rubber tube.

Before passing the monitor over to you, a cardiac technician will program it and take a primary reading to ensure that all settings are correct. The monitor cuff will be wrapped around your bicep and the monitor secured to a waist belt or a shoulder strap.

You will be instructed on how to operate the monitor and asked to keep a diary of any symptoms, vigorous activity and stressful episodes, in addition to the schedule and dosage of blood pressure medication.

The arm cuff will inflate every 15 minutes until 10:00 p.m. and then every half hour thereafter until 6:00 a.m.

Special Instructions

Bring arrive with ALL OF YOUR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS for the cardiologist to review.

We do ask that you refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes or scented lotions on the day of your appointment. There are no pretest dietary restrictions and you should continue to take any prescribed medications as normal, unless otherwise advised by your doctor.

Arrive 10 minutes before your appointment to register at the reception desk.

Consultation Process

Request for Consultation

All requests for cardiac consultations must be made by a referring physician, who make the request on your behalf. The specialist’s team will provide you an appointment time based on availability and urgency of request. Prior to your arrival, the specialist will receive all required medical information on your cardiac status and indications in order to provide a thorough assessment.

Follow-Up Appointment

Based on the cardiac consultation and subsequent test results, the cardiologist may request additional test(s) or request that you come in for a follow-up appointment. The cardiologist will provide a detailed explanation of the results, as well as the prognosis and treatment plan if required.

Cardiac Re-Assessment

A cardiac re-assessment may be requested based on the determination and results of tests. Your cardiologist will review your progress and make any changes to your treatment plan as required.

Special Instructions

Patients should be off beta- blockers and calcium-channel blockers on the recommendation of the referring physician only. For patients who have severe asthma and who are on chronic bronchodilators, Persantine stress studies are contraindicated. Patients undergoing Persantine stressing do not require exercise clothing.

Patients should have a light meal on the day of the test. Avoid certain foods such as milk and caffeine-containing beverages at least 24 hours before the test. No caffeine containing products (e.g.: coffee, tea, hot chocolate, even decaffeinated drinks, soda pop, some pain pills and asthma medications) 12 hours prior to the test.

Bring a list of medications with you including dosage and frequency. Take all medications as usual unless otherwise directed by your doctor. It is vital that the physician knows exactly what medications you are taking and if you have diabetes, a defibrillator or pacemaker.  

Make sure that you have no lotions applied on your chest area and no smoking 1 hour prior to testing.

Please bring a snack with you to eat after receiving your radio-pharmaceutical injection for the test. This will help to optimize the quality of your images.

Make sure you wear comfortable clothing suitable for physical activity. Your shoes should be designed for running or jogging (excluding Persantine patients).

Test Process

The Nuclear Cardiology examination consists of two parts which last approximately 3-6 hours in total duration.

The Resting MUGA (ventricular function) study consists of one part and lasts about 1-1/2 hours.