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Before Your MRI

Before your MRI we will draw blood. This blood helps us see if your kidneys are healthy and working the way they should. (Your will need your blood drawn one month before your MRI.) Please also follow these instructions:

• Do not drink any caffeine 24 hours before the scan.
• Remove all metal objects (such as glasses, jewelry, belts, or clothing with zipper).
• Fill out a pre-screening form.

Remember to dress comfortably. We will also ask you to change into a hospital gown.

After those things are done, an MRI tech will place an IV in your arm (possibly two). Please tell your doctor if you have any allergies to iodine or shellfish (contrast allergies).

You will need a 13-hour medication treatment before the MRI. Also tell your doctor if you are claustrophobic or if you get anxious in tight spaces. 

During MRI

During the MRI, you will be lying on your back. We will try to make you as comfortable as possible. We will put a cushion under your knees and giving you a ball that you can squeeze in your hand. The ball will alert the technician, who runs the MRI machine, if you are feeling too uncomfortable or having any problems.

The MRI machine itself is loud. We will give you headphones so you can hear the technician who runs the machine. The technician will also use the headphones to give you instructions on how to breathe during certain parts of the scan. (Breath in, breath out, hold.)

If you are cold, we can get you a blanket. 

If your physician decides you can’t have a cardiac MRI, they may schedule you for a cardiac computed tomography (CT). This is also a non-invasive, painless test.

Implantable Pacemaker or Defibrillator

Note that even if you have an an implantable pacemaker or defibrillator, we can often still safely perform an MRI at 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀÖ±²¥. However, the quality of the imaging may be lower than usual. We evaluate this on a case-by-case basis.

Transesophageal Echocardiogram (TEE): What Is TEE?

A transesophageal echocardiogram is a sonogram, and does not involve radiation. This sonogram allows your doctor to record images of your heart from inside your esophagus (food pipe).

This test looks for blood clots in your heart. It needs to be done 24–48 hours before your ablation procedure, but may instead be done as part of the ablation itself. If we find a clot in your heart, we will reschedule your ablation procedure.

Plan for the TEE to take one to two hours.

Before Your TEE

• Make a list of all your medications and check with your doctor to see if you can take them before the test.
• Don’t eat or drink for six hours before the test (this includes drinking water).
• Tell your doctor if you have ulcers, a hiatal hernia, or problems swallowing. Also, let him or her know of any allergies to any medications or sedatives.
• Plan for someone to drive you home after the exam.

During Your TEE

When you arrive for you TEE, you will change into a hospital gown. We will then take you to the testing room.

Once in the room, we will spray your throat with an anesthetic to numb it. We may also give you a mild sedative through an IV in your arm to help you relax. (You could also be given oxygen.) Then we will ask you to lay on your side.

The doctor will gently insert a probe into your mouth. As you swallow, your doctor will slowly guide the tube into your esophagus. We lubricate the tube is so that it will slide easily. You may feel the doctor moving the probe, but it shouldn’t hurt or interfere with your breathing.

A nurse will monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. The test usually takes 20–40 minutes.

After the Test

If your TEE is the day before your ablation procedure, you can eat and drink again as soon as your throat isn’t numb. You will need someone available to drive you home after the test.