Cardiac Services
Here at Blackrock Clinic we have a state of the Art cardiology department with a full range of cardiac services, support and expertise that a patient may require at the various stages of care from diagnosis to treatment. Our cardiology department is open from;
Monday to Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
To make an appointment freephone 1800 300 200
Patients requiring resting ECG's and pacemaker checks require no appointment, this is a walk in service. More specialised tests such as Stress Tests, Echocardiography, Holter and Blood Pressure Monitors will require appointments.
Stress ECG
If you are attending the department for a Stress ECG it is a good idea to wear light casual clothes and comfortable walking shoes.
Echocardiography
Complete cardiac imaging is available with doppler and colour flow.
Transoesophageal Echos and Cardioversion Service are available through consultation with a consultant cardiologist.
For Coronary Angiography, Electrophysiology Studies and Ablation patients must be referred to a consultant cardiologist.
Cardiac MRI
Currently updating this page
Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic
This facility is for patients with non-acute chest pain that require investigation. The service will provide a "one stop shop" where pateints undergo a clinical assessment and any cardiac investigation tests necessary to confirm or exclude coronary disease.
Patients will be seen within 24 hours of referral.
This is a consultant led service and is available Monday to Friday.
A letter or referral form is required.
For Appointments Freephone 1800 300 200 or 087 3294404
Cardiac CT is the very latest diagnostic tool that is changing the way cardiology practice is currently carried out. It can rapidly produce three and four dimensional pictures of the heart. It can do this both quickly (the average CT scan takes approximately 10-15 minutes with only 8 seconds of actual scanning) and non-invasively, unlike a conventional coronary angiogram, and is a great way for doctors to assess their patients.
Two types of cardiac scanning can be performed:
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Calcium Score Scan
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Cardiac CT Scan
Blackrock Clinic is the first in Ireland with the 64-Channel Cardiac CT scanner technology, once again leading the way in delivering cutting edge technology to help Doctors and patients.
What is Coronary Artery Disease ?
Coronary Artery Disease is caused by artherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) with cholesterol build up and calcification (calcium build up) of the coronary arteries.
The cardiac CT scan can detect the presence of calcium at a very early stage even before any significant blockage has developed and potentially years before a standard health screening or exercise ECG would detect the disease.
Calcium Score Scan
This scan can detect very small deposits of calcium in your coronary arteries with great accuracy. The amount of calcium deposited in all the coronary arteries is added and a score is given.
For the procedure itself you simply lie on a padded table directly under the scanner with your arms above your head. ECG leads will be placed in appropriate positions on your chest. Two images will be taken initially and this is then followed by the main scan.
The procedure takes about 10 - 15 minutes but expect to be in the department in total for approximately 30 minutes.
The images are reported on by a Consultant Radiologist and the scan report will be sent directly to your referring Doctor.
Cardiac CT Scan
This scan gives detailed images of the heart and coronary arteries using an intravenous contrast injection. It also includes a calcium score scan. When making the appointment you will be asked to arrive in the department one and a half hours prior to the scan time.
In preparation, you need to fast for 4 hours prior to the procedure, you also need to avoid drinking coffee or other stimulant drinks and to refrain from exercise before scaning.
On arrival to the CT department your heart rate will be checked. If your heart rate is above a certain level, you may be given a betablocker (medication which slows the heart rate) on the instruction of the Consultant in the department.
Following administration of a betablocker (if necessary) we will ask you to remain in the department for a minimum of one hour before scanning.
For the procedure you lie on the padded table under the scanner. A cannula is inserted into a vein in your arm for the intravenous contrast injection. ECG leads will be placed on your chest to monitor the heart rate.
The cardiac score will be performed initially followed by the contrast injection. Scanning then takes approximately 15 minutes.
After the scan you will remain in the department for up to one hour. It is advisable to be accompanied by a driver when returning home. You may eat and drink normally as soon as the procedure is complete.
Expect to be in the department for approximatley two and a half hours in total from start to finish.
Following the scan, a Consultant Radiologist and a Consultant Cardiologist will analyze the images produced and their report will go directly to your referring doctor.
Who should I (the doctor) refer for a Cardiac CT Scan ?
The Patient with Symptoms
- Chest pain with equivocal or unsatisfactory Stress test
- Ongoing symptoms despite normal Stress test in a patient with risk factors
- Atypical chest pain where you want to rule out disease once and for all
- Chest pain but unable to undergo Invasive Coronary Angiography
- Looking for anomalous coronary arteries as a risk for sudden cardiac death or chest pain
Other Indications
- Post cardiac surgery
- Tumours
The Asymptomatic Patient
- Abnormalities on a routine Stress Test
Who should I (the doctor) refer for Calcium Scoring CT ?
Asymptomatic Patients with
- Strong family history of Coronary Artery Disease
- Persistent high lipid levels
- Multiple risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, hypertension, etc
How much does the Scan cost ?
Calcium Score Scan €400
Cardiac CT Scan €650
The cost of the Scan is payable on the day. As yet this test is not covered directly by health insurance, but this may change. Therefore if you have medical insurance cover it is a good idea to check with your insurance company.
You may also be entitled to income tax relief.
Appointments
You can make an appointment by contacting the department directly on
Free-Phone 1800 300 200
You will require a referral letter from your GP or your Consultant.