How to make an appointment?
About the Procedure
How to make an appointment?
Clinical cardiac MRI and CT procedures must be scheduled by your physician’s office.
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About the Procedure
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Your doctor wants you to have a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. This test can show images or pictures of the heart from any angle. The pictures can help your doctor diagnose many heart problems that are not seen with other
tests. This is a safe and painless test. MRI uses powerful magnets and radio frequency waves. The radio signals are
then put into a computer to show a picture of the heart.
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Before the test
- You will need to remove all metal items such as watch, hairpins, jewelry,coins, and piercings from your body. Please leave valuable belongings at home.
- Leave your credit cards at home because the strong magnets in the lab could change the card so it will not work.
- If you wear any kind of medicine patch, such as a nicotine or nitroglycerin
patch, they will need to be removed for this test. Bring a new patch that you
can put on after your test.
- Bring a list of any medicines you take. Include prescription, over the counter, herbal and vitamin supplements.
- We ask you to arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time. There are many questions we need to ask before you have the MRI.
- When you arrive at The Ross Heart Hospital registration desk, you will be asked to fill out a form for your insurance and billing information. Remember to bring your insurance card(s) with you.
- You will then be sent to the Cardiac Non-Invasive Lab. We will ask you to fill out a form about your health history. Please let us know right away if you:
- Are or could be pregnant
- Weigh over 400 pounds
- Have a cardiac pacemaker
- Have any type of implanted device such as a stent, or artificial joint
- Have metal shrapnel or fragments inside your body
- You will be asked to change into a hospital gown. A locker is provided for your clothes and belongings. You will need to remove dentures for the test.
- An IV will be started in your arm for IV medicine called contrast. IV contrast is needed to give better pictures.
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What happens during the MRI?
The MRI machine is a tube that is approximately 3 feet wide and 6 feet long. Your whole body will be inside this tube with your head about one foot from the end of the tube. Using a speaker and headphones, we will be able to talk with you during
the test. If you become anxious inside the tube, we can give medicine through your IV to make you more comfortable during the test. This will require you to have someone with you to drive you home. The technologist will ask you to hold your breath for many of the pictures. You must stay as still as possible during the test to get the best pictures. During the test, you will hear knocking sounds as the machine takes the pictures. The test will take 60-90 minutes.
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If you are having a stress test with your cardiac MRI:
- You should avoid caffeinated foods and drinks for at least 12 hours before your test. Caffeine is in cola and other sodas, coffee, tea, and chocolate.
- Do not eat or drink for 3 hours before your test. You may take your routine medicines with a small sip of water.
- A second IV will be started for the stress test.
- An EKG will be done before and after the stress test.
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How will you know the results?
A cardiologist will read the pictures. Your doctor will receive the results and then share them with you.
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After your test:
Drink 6 to 8 (8 ounce) cups of liquid to flush the contrast medicine used during the MRI out of your body. Good liquids for most people to drink are water, milk and juice. Limit the amount of caffeine you drink. Caffeine may be found in coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks and foods.
You may drive home after the test if you were not given medicine to help you relax during the test. If you were given sedative medicine to help your relax, an
adult must be with you to take you home. It is not safe for you to drive or leave alone.
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Where is the cardiac MRI done?
The Ross Heart Hospital
452 W 10th Avenue
Columbus, Ohio
For any questions about the test or if you need to reschedule, please call (614) 293-0806 and a technologist will be happy to help you.
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If you would like more written information, please call the Library for Health Information at (614)293-3707. You can also make the request by e-mail: health-info@osu.edu. |
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