Your doctor may recommend you have a cardiac CT scan if you have a possible or diagnosed heart problem. You'll lie on a table in the centre of a CT scanner while an X-ray beam rotates around you, producing images of your heart. It can take as little as 10 to 15 minutes, is painless and provides your doctors with invaluable insight into how your heart is doing so they can plan treatment for you.
A referral letter from a consultant or GP is required before booking any diagnostic investigation.
Why you might need it
If you've had chest pains or other symptoms of possible or diagnosed heart problems such as arrhythmia, a cardiac CT (computerised tomography) scan will allow your doctors to see how your heart is functioning.
CT scans have been used routinely as a key diagnostic tool for years. Doctors are able to see parts of the body they could previously only assess through invasive surgery.
We understand that your heart is in our hands, and for us there is no greater trust. We take caring for it very seriously.
Since 2007 we've invested £500 million into our hospitals and staff; all of our patients can gain rapid access to some of the latest generation diagnostic imaging equipment and treatment.
All patients, either insured or paying for themselves, can gain rapid access to some of the latest generation diagnostic imaging and treatments.
You don't have to wait to have this scan with us, so you can have your results in hand to quickly get on the right treatment path for your condition. We don't just offer diagnostics, but take an integrated medical approach and can organise any other care that you may need.
Find a Spire hospital offering this treatment
Who will do it?
Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care.
All of our radiographers are of the highest standard and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospitals.
Before your treatment
You will need a referral letter from a consultant or GP before booking any diagnostic investigation.
You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history, symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.
We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests, are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.
You can ask us about these issues or anything else about the CT scan.
Preparing for your treatment
We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.
For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.
Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.
The procedure
We understand that having a CT scan can make some people nervous, particularly if you are claustrophobic. A typical cardiac CT scan can take up to 30 minutes. Our experienced and caring staff will be there for you, holding your hand, every step of the way.
If contrast (a special type of dye) is needed to get the best results from your particular scan, we’ll inject it into a vein in your arm or hand. Our staff will also put electrodes (small patches) on your chest to record your heart’s electrical activity.
You’ll be lying on a table that slides into the CT scanner. The scanner’s X-ray beam will rotate around you, taking images that can be printed or stored on a computer.
Our radiographer (the person who performs the scan) might ask you to hold your breath for a few seconds at times.
Try to keep still while you’re in the scanner as fidgeting or moving about blurs the image.
Aftercare
You’ll be able to leave straight after the scan without any side-effects. If you had a contrast injection the nurse will apply a dressing where the needle was inserted so there won’t be any bleeding. If you did have a contrast we’ll ask you to drink lots of water to flush the dye out of your system.
If you're having cardiac care with us, we'll book you an appointment to get the results of the scan within a few days. Otherwise we will send them swiftly to your NHS doctors.
If anything out of the ordinary is found during the scan, we offer integrated medical care and can create a treatment plan to help put you back on the road to good health.
Why choose Spire?
We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.
Important to note
The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.