October 3, 2022 — A new ‘ECHO lab’ at Memorial Hospital West is benefiting patients that may have heart disease and the cardiac specialists that treat them.
The space enables cardiac teams to use ultrasound (or echocardiography) to assess the size and efficiency of heart chambers. This non-invasive, outpatient test also allows for assessment of blood flow through the heart valves to determine if there is narrowing, backflow, or other issues that prevent optimal function. Stress tests, coronary CTAs, and cardiac MRIs are also interpreted there. “Our cardiac teams were involved in the design of the ECHO lab and were able to maximize use of the space,” said Dr. Omosalewa Adewale, medical director of cardiac imaging at Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute.
Congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, infective endocarditis, pericardial disease, and rheumatic heart disease are just a few of the ailments that can be diagnosed through echocardiographic testing. It can also determine how other diseases, including cancer and stroke, have affected the heart’s function.
Memorial’s cardiac sonographers, cardiology fellowship trainees, and cardiologists all collaborate to interpret imaging tests that influence treatment decisions.
The Memorial Cardiac & Vascular Institute is a cardiovascular care leader, offering a wide array of services dedicated to the prevention, detection, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Its multi-disciplinary specialists collaborate using sophisticated diagnostic equipment and facilities. Cardiovascular care outcomes are regularly reviewed by physician-review panels and nurses to ensure quality assurance that utilizes computerized data collection.
For more information: mhs.net/services/cardiac-vascular
September 25, 2023 
