Your heart sends alerts when it’s not functioning effectively, from dizziness to extreme fatigue to swelling in the legs and feet. However, it takes some investigation to determine precisely what’s causing the problem. A MUGA scan helps with that.
Our team of board-certified cardiologists at Premier Cardiology Consultants serves residents around New York City with state-of-the-art cardiovascular care, including diagnostic studies that provide a detailed look at your heart function.
Read more from our team regarding the benefits of a MUGA scan, how to prepare, and what to expect on test day.
A MUGA (multiple gated acquisition) scan is a sophisticated imaging test that offers detailed information about heart function, particularly the pumping power of the two lower chambers (ventricles).
The scan, a type of nuclear medicine, uses advanced imaging technology to create a movie-like sequence of images. These images capture the movement of blood through your heart, allowing your Premier Cardiology Consultants team to assess the heart's pumping efficiency.
The test is particularly valuable for measuring ejection fraction (EF), the percentage of blood pumped out of the ventricles with each heartbeat. A normal EF typically ranges from 50% to 70%.
Test results can help us identify conditions that affect the heart’s ability to pump blood, including:
You may also require a MUGA scan to ensure adequate heart function before major surgery.
A MUGA scan is an outpatient study generally well-tolerated by most individuals. The study does use a small amount of a radioactive tracer, injected into a vein before the scan begins, to make blood cells visible as they move through the heart.
During the scan, you lie comfortably on an exam table while a gamma camera takes images from different angles. The camera captures the movement of the tracer through the heart over several minutes, producing a series of images showing the heart at different stages of the cardiac cycle.
Depending on your symptoms, your Premier Cardiology Consultants specialist may recommend a MUGA scan as part of an exercise stress test. If so, images will be captured following the exercise portion of the study.
Benefits of a MUGA scan include:
Its ability to precisely measure ejection fraction and visualize the heart’s pumping action makes the MUGA scan essential in diagnosing and managing certain types of heart disease.
You will receive specific pre-procedure instructions from your Premier Cardiology Consultants provider before the MUGA scan, which may vary slightly by individual.
For instance, you need to withhold certain medications on the day of the study to prevent them from interfering with the results. Usually, you can eat and drink normally before the test unless instructed otherwise.
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing, and avoid wearing jewelry or accessories that might interfere with the procedure. You may be asked to change into a hospital gown.
The entire procedure typically takes 1-2 hours, including preparation time and waiting for the tracer to circulate. The scan itself usually takes about 30-45 minutes. You can typically resume routine activities immediately after the scan.
Schedule an evaluation at Premier Cardiology Consultants today for cardiac care that’s personalized to meet your needs.
