Uses a CT scanner to examine your heart and assess cardiac conditions
Cardiac CT Scan (heart CT)
Why choose Vista Health for your Cardiac CT Scan?
Book a private Cardiac CT scan in Central London (Fitzrovia) and Milton Keynes to fast-track your diagnosis. With support from our dedicated patient care team, you’ll get quick and affordable access - without waiting lists.
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Cardiac CT scan (heart CT)
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Affordable
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Digital Imaging Report
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Accessible
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Support
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Skip the wait
Take charge of your heart health today
Have you been experiencing unusual chest pains? Are you worried that your heart isn’t as healthy as you thought?
A cardiac CT scan, also known as a CT coronary angiogram, can check the health of your heart and its surrounding blood vessels - this includes your coronary arteries, that is, the blood vessels that supply your heart.
Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of ill health and death in the UK and often has no symptoms in its early stages.
But with a Vista Health cardiac CT scan, you can catch the early signs of coronary artery disease and take steps to get your heart health back on track.
What Is A Cardiac CT Scan?
A cardiac CT scan is a non-invasive imaging technology that uses X-rays to create detailed images of your heart and its blood vessels. The images are captured from different angles and then stitched together by a computer to form a 3D picture.
This allows your doctor to check the health and structure of your heart, including its four chambers, muscle, valves, the protective sac that it sits in (pericardium) and its major blood vessels.
A cardiac CT scan can also look for calcium build-up in your coronary arteries. This is a sign of coronary artery disease that can be picked up even before you notice any symptoms, giving you the chance to take the right steps to protect your heart from further damage.
Take Charge Of Your Heart Health
Why Choose Vista Health For Your Cardiac CT Scan?
With a cardiac CT scan at Vista Health, you can look forward to a comprehensive, tailored service delivered by clinical experts.
What does this mean for you? It means you will benefit from:
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Fast Access to Screening
You don’t need to wait on a GP referral to have a cardiac CT scan at Vista Health. Plus, there are no waiting lists. Simply book your appointment at a time that suits you at one of our nationwide clinics.
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Expert, Specialist Care
Your cardiac CT scan will be carried out by a team of highly skilled specialists, including a specialist nurse and radiographer who will carry out the scan and an expert radiologist (a doctor who specialises in medical imaging) who will oversee your care.
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State-of-the-Art Technology
We use advanced CT scanning technology so you can feel confident in the clarity and accuracy of your scan results.
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Speedy Results
We aim to deliver your cardiac CT scan results alongside the insights and advice of one of our experienced radiologists and/or cardiologists within 3 working days.
How much will a private Cardiac CT scan with Vista Health cost?
| Label and description | Value |
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CT coronary angiogram (one part)
Only
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£1,095
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CT coronary artery calcium scoring
Only
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£445
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Combined
CT coronary angiogram and CT coronary artery calcium scoring
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£1,540
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Results
Report and Digital Images
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FREE
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Step by step
Your Cardiac CT Scan: A Step By Step Guide
Here’s what to expect when you book a private CT scan with Vista Health
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Book your cardiac CT scan
You must have a referral form or letter from a GP, a consultant or doctor, or a registered physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor. If you don’t yet have a referral letter but you believe you need a CT scan, we can arrange an appointment with one of our own private GPs, who will provide a referral if you need it. There is an additional charge for this.
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Get scanned
Before your scan, you will be given a gown to change into and a special dye called a contrast agent will be injected into your arm - this will help provide clearer images of the structures of your heart. During your scan, you will be asked to lie back on the scanner table and place your arms above your head - you will need to keep your arms in this position until your scan is complete. The table will be moved into the ring-shaped body of the CT scanner. The ring will rotate around your body capturing images of your heart. Your scan will take around 5 minutes.
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Get your results
We will aim to deliver a detailed report of your results within 3 working days, alongside advice and guidance from one of our expert radiologists. This report will also be sent to your NHS GP.
How can we help?
Support
If you’re about to begin a healthcare journey, you’re likely to have a few questions. We’ve tried to answer the most common queries here - but if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can always ask one of our friendly patient care advisors.
How can I prepare for my Cardiac CT Scan?
Before your scan, a Vista Health doctor will advise you on whether you need to temporarily stop taking any medications you are on.
You should not take any medication before your scan that could increase your heart rate, such as sildenafil. You may be prescribed certain medication (i.e. beta-blockers) to take before your scan to help slow down your heart rate - please take this medication as instructed by your doctor.
If you are a smoker or are trying to quit smoking, avoid smoking or using a nicotine patch for at least 24 hours before your scan.
Make sure you stop drinking any caffeinated beverages (e.g. tea, coffee and energy drinks) at least 12 hours before your scan. You can, however, continue to drink non-caffeinated beverages and water during this time.
On the day, stop eating at least four hours before your scan. Before you go in for your scan, you will be asked to remove anything containing metal that is worn around your chest area (e.g. necklaces, nipple piercings, etc). Any hair that may interfere with good ECG contact with the skin and, therefore, a good electrical transmission is removed by shaving.
Your specialist care team will explain everything that will happen before, during and after your scan, and you will have time to ask any questions.
Is a cardiac CT scan the same as a coronary angiography?
A cardiac CT scan is also known as a CT coronary angiography; however, it is less invasive than a traditional coronary angiography.
A traditional coronary angiography involves inserting a flexible tube (catheter) into an artery in your groin or arm and carefully passing it up into your heart. A CT coronary angiography only involves injecting a special dye called a contrast agent into a vein in your arm.
Both a traditional and CT coronary angiography then use X-rays to create images of your heart to construct a 3D picture of it.
What will happen after my cardiac CT scan?
After your cardiac CT scan, you can eat and drink as normal. Make sure you stay well-hydrated to help the contrast agent pass out of your system via your urine.
If you were prescribed medication to take before your scan (i.e. beta-blockers) - either on the day or before the day of your scan - you will be asked to remain in the clinic for 30 minutes to make sure you don’t develop any side effects from the medication, such as dizziness or lightheadedness. If you develop side effects, you will need someone to take you home; if you do not, you can drive home yourself.
Are there any risks of having a cardiac CT scan?
A cardiac CT scan is generally considered a safe procedure; however, every procedure comes with certain risks. For a cardiac CT scan, you may have an allergic reaction to the contrast agent. If you know you are allergic to contrast agent or have a history of similar allergic reactions, you may be given steroids before the contrast agent is injected to prevent an allergic reaction.
If you have kidney disease, there is a risk that the contrast agent will further damage your kidneys. Your doctor may, therefore, recommend that you have a different test to investigate your heart health.