Frequently Asked Questions About Cardiac MRI Exams
Q: How many different kinds of cardiac MRI exams are there?
A: RMG offers four types of cardiac MRI exams. These exams are listed below with RMG scheduling codes in parentheses:
- Resting Function and Morphology Cardiac MRI (31306)
- Stress Function (Dobutamine) Cardiac MRI (31409)
- Stress Perfusion (Adenosine/Gadolinium) Cardiac MRI (31414)
- Viability (Gadolinium) Cardiac MRI (31410)
Q: How is a Cardiac MRI exam scheduled?
A: Because these exams are fairly complex and because all of these cases require some radiologist-referring physician discussion, for the time being, the lead RMG physicians in this project (Dr. Kellerhouse and Dr. Boswell) will consult with the referring physician.
Q: What are important precautions of these tests?
A: The presence of a pacemaker is critical. Cardiac MRI cannot be performed when a pacemaker is present.
Q: Does a cardiologist need to be present for these Cardiac MRI exams?
A: Yes, a cardiologist is present for two of these exams that involve a cardiac stress test—Stress Function (Dobutamine) Cardiac MRI and Stress Perfusion (Adenosine/Gadolinium) Cardiac MRI . At the present time, RMG provides a cardiologist, Dr. John Mazur, who is monitors the patient during all stress cardiac MRI exams. A cardiologist is not necessary for the two non-stress cardiac MRI exams—Resting Function and Morphology Cardiac MRI and Viability (Gadolinium) Cardiac MRI .
Q: Is dietary restriction necessary?
A: Only for adenosine stress cardiac MRI. Since caffeine will interfere with the administration of adenosine, caffeine restriction is essential to obtain a reliable adenosine stress exam. A list of caffeine containing food and beverages should be sent to the patient along with the consent form.
Q: Should medications be withheld?
A: Again, only for stress cardiac MRI. It is important for Drs. Kellerhouse and Boswell to know if the patient is taking Theophylline-containing medications or Beta-blockers. RMG schedulers should not advise the patient regarding these medications. Please include this information when notifying Drs. Kellerhouse and Boswell of the impending exam.
Q: What is the patient preparation for cardiac MRI?
A: All patients should arrive one hour before their appointment and all patients need to be driven to and from their exam. In addition, please read the Dobutamine Stress Cardiac MRI and Adenosine Stress Cardiac MRI Consent forms. These forms contain important information about both exams and will be mailed or faxed to the patient at the time of scheduling.
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