Information for patients

Links

Wellington Hospital
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Clementine Churchill BMI (Harrow)
Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital

Patient testimonials

First, I can’t thank you enough for all your time, interest and care on Thursday.

Secondly, the one stop ‘plumb and sparks’ shop is seriously impressive, staffed by great, caring and efficient people who are fun. In about an hour to do an echo, treadmill test and take 49 blood samples etc. must be close to a W.R....

Seriously, from the patients point of view you are offering full diagnostics almost in the ‘golden hour’ whereas with most other approaches it takes more like a month! The expeditious approach apart from removing patients uncertainty which often weighs heavily means if necessary you are in to treatment almost immediately....

Patients will definitely feel that they and their quality of lfe is being put first.

Mr Y. (2010) Suffolk.

Carotid intima-media thickness measurement

Since the 1990's, both small clinical and several larger scale pharmaceutical trials have used carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) measurement for assessing regression and/or progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Many studies have documented the relation between the carotid intima-media thickness and the presence and severity of atherosclerosis. In 2003 the European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology recommended the use of IMT measurements in high-risk patients to help identify target organ damage not revealed by other exams such as the electrocardiogram. Bascially if there is thickening of the wall of the carotid artery this is likely to be a sign that all of the arteries of the body have atherosclerosis or “furring”.

We use ultrasound to measure the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). The test consists of placing a probe over the neck arteries to get an accurate picture of the walls. The test is non-invasive and painless and usually takes about 15 minutes. Following this the pictures obtained are analysed. The results of this may add to the information that your cardiologist is able to obtain regarding your likely cardiovascular risk from taking your medical history and examining you.

Carotid intima-media thickness measurement

The distance between the 2 arrows is the intima-media thickness