Cardiac MRI Test

Purpose of the Test

An MRI is a non-invasive test. It evaluates:

• Size and thickness of walls in the chambers of the heart.
• Amount of damage caused by heart attack or heart disease.
• Structural problems or abnormalities you were born with.

MRI uses a strong magnetic field. The MRI tech will check if you have any implants. If you have been a metal worker or welder, you may need an X-ray before the test. It may find you have metal in your eyes.

Patient Instructions

Diet

• Eat and drink as usual.

Medicine

• Bring a list of your medicines with you.

Length of Test

• Plan for at least 1 hour.

Clothing

• Plan to put on a hospital gown/pants unless you wear sweatpants. No metal is allowed in the scanner.

The Test

• You will have monitoring leads (wires) placed on your chest.
• If we use contrast, we may place an intravenous (IV) line. It will depend on the reason for the study.
• You must lie very still to get clear pictures.
• The machine makes loud, knocking noises.

After the Test

You may go back to normal activity unless you received sedation by mouth or IV. If you did receive sedation, you will not be able to drive for 24 hours.