Heart Imaging Diagnostics

The advanced collaborative imaging team at Nebraska Medicine consists of dedicated and highly-trained radiologists, cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists and cardiac/vascular surgeons who can diagnose and manage complex heart and vascular conditions using the most advanced types of imaging. Working together they will find the answers and help you on your way to better health.

Heart Imaging at Nebraska Medicine Provides:

The Only High Speed, Solid State, Heart Nuclear Imaging System in Omaha

The nuclear heart imaging technology provides us with higher quality images in just a few minutes, and can help us understand if there's a high risk you are on the brink of having a heart attack or another bad heart-related problem. This equipment also often works for patients who can't go through with other forms of stress imaging. 

Cardiac Imaging

Doctors at Nebraska Medicine have added a new high-speed cardiac nuclear imaging camera to their arsenal of cardiac diagnostic tools that can improve doctors’ ability to evaluate a patient’s risk of having a heart attack. Compared to older nuclear imaging cameras, the new technology offers a solid state technology that results in images of higher quality and can reduce imaging time from approximately 15 to 20 minutes per scan to as low as two to four minutes per scan. As a result, it has the potential to significantly reduce radiation exposure for patients. Additionally, the camera allows patients to be scanned in a much more comfortable, sitting position, than the standard supine position with the arms raised above the head.

Advanced Imaging

Nebraska Medicine’s cardiology services offers advanced imaging with real-time profusion echocardiography, a technology that was pioneered at Nebraska Medicine. This test allows for earlier detection of acute coronary syndrome or myocardial ischemia (inadequate blood supply to the heart muscles) and provides an immediate diagnosis with increased accuracy. Our program includes the only two cardiac specialists in the area who are trained and experienced to perform this type of testing. We also offer adult congenital imaging to detect shunts and defects and follow-up evaluations after specific heart surgeries.

Real Time Stress Echo

The 3-D real-time stress echocardiogram uses high frequency sound waves to see and record the movement and function of the heart muscle for noninvasive detection of coronary artery disease.

Real Time Stress Profusion

This test evaluates ischemia, an inadequate blood supply to heart muscles, and coronary artery disease. It allows your doctor to observe the heart's motion and provide a more accurate ejection fraction (measurement of the percentage of blood leaving your heart each time it contracts) and can detect masses or clots in the heart.

Cardiac MRI

Cardiac MRI is the gold standard for diagnosis and assessment of numerous heart functions including chamber size and function, wall motion, blood vessels, the central and peripheral vascular system and myocardial scarring. This test can assess a variety of conditions including myocarditis, pericarditis, acute and chronic myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndrome. Nebraska Medicine’s cardiac MRI program includes five, level-three trained doctors who are experts in cardiac MRI and trained at some of the leading centers of the country that pioneered this diagnostic technique. Because we partner with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, we are also a training center for other doctors learning this advanced diagnostic technique.

3-D Imaging

Our imaging specialists are experts in imaging for structural and valvular heart disease, using trans esophageal echo CT and MRI for guidance before, during and after surgery. This tool is effective to evaluate children and adults with congenital heart disease and thoracic aortic diseases.

Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

Cardiac CT can help diagnose coronary artery disease, assess aortic valve problems, examine bypass grafts and assess your future risk of having a heart attack.

Echocardiography

Our team offers many types of echocardiograms to help your doctor diagnose your heart problem, assess your risk for heart disease and effectively treat your condition including:

• Perioperative echocardiography
• Focused echocardiography
• Perfusion echocardiography
• Interventional echocardiography
• Pediatric echocardiography

Highly Trained Doctors

Our team members are experts in imaging and have received the finest training available including:

• Level III training in cardiovascular MRI and cardiac CT
• Level III training in echocardiography, stress echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography
• Advanced imaging processing for left ventricular strain, three dimensional echocardiographic reconstructions
• Two dedicated imaging specialists with formal adult congenital heart disease imaging training in echocardiography