Cardiac CT Angiography (CTA) provides excellent non-invasive images of the heart arteries for most patients. That means that you may not have to accept the risks associated with running a catheter up from your groin into your heart if you need to know what your coronary arteries look like. Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) is offered in partnership with the Carilion Clinic as well.
A consultation at the Roanoke Heart Institute can open the door to this technique for you. Dr. Schmedtje is one of the few cardiologists in Roanoke who has privileges at the Carilion Clinic that allow him to interpret these studies.
CMR is particularly useful in imaging congenital anomalies of the heart, determining viability of injured hearts before heart surgery, evaluating pericardial diseases (in the surroundings of the heart), and finding the causes of rhythm abnormalities as well as mapping the heart prior to arrhythmia surgery.
Dr. Schmedtje was the first cardiologist in Roanoke to interpret Cardiac MR and CT for patients and remains among the most experienced practitioners in CMR and CCT in southwestern Virginia. He was formally recognized for his skills by the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in 2003 and the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography in 2007, and in 2008 became a diplomate of the Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography.