Nuclear Cardiology
Nuclear Cardiology is a busy department which carries out tests on nearly 2,000 patients each year: we are in the top ten busiest departments for Nuclear Cardiology in the UK. The department is well-equipped, with state-of-the-art technology.
Myocardial Perfusion Scintigraphy (MPS)
Small amounts of a radioactive substance (technetium) are injected into the blood stream at peak stress and again at rest.
The isotope can be visualised as it travels through the arteries to the heart, by a special gamma camera (which is not clasutrophobic). The stress can take the form of a treadmill, bicycle or a variety of established intravenous agents. This test looks for heart disease.
Radionuclide Ventriculography (RNV or MUGA).
Small amounts of a radioactive substance are injected into the blood stream to assess overall heart function.
Further details are available from the British Nuclear Cardiology Society website.
At the department
- One day appointment (including both stress and rest parts)
Four to five hours in total
- Two day appointment (stress and rest on separate days)
Two to three hours each day
We have two separate waiting areas, one for non-injected patients and relatives and another for injected (radioactive) patients. There is television and reading material available. Children should not spend long periods of time in the department.
Our staff will let you know in advance when you are likely to be discharged from the ward, and will discuss with you how you will get home.
You will be given your provisional test results and a full report will be sent to your consultant.
Food and drink
We will ask you to eat and drink something to help to clear the radioactive agent out of your system. This improves the quality of the scan. You might like to bring some food and drink with you from home. We also have a water cooler for patients.
Staff
- Dr Nikant Sabharwal
Consultant Cardiologist
- Dr Oliver Ormerod
Consultant Cardiologist
- Dr Sergei Pavlitchouk
Nuclear Cardiology Services Manager
- Dr Samin Mufti
Staff Cardiologist
- Mrs Felicidad Ramos
Cardiac Physiologist, Deputy Manager
- Mrs Cara Bown
Cardiac Physiologist
- Mr Peter Wood
Cardiac Physiologist
- Mr Simon Overy
Secretary
Find us and contact us
- Nuclear Cardiology Department
John Radcliffe Hospital
Headley Way
Headington
Oxford OX3 9DU
- Enquiries: 01865 221979
- Manager: Dr Sergei Pavlitchouk
From the main hospital entrance: follow the corridor down to the main lifts. Take the lift (or use the stairs) to get down to Level 1. As you walk out of the lifts exit through the double doors and turn right. Follow the corridor down to the next set of lifts. The Nuclear Cardiology department will be on your right (red doors).
Alternatively you can follow main corridor past the shops and League of Friends café and take the lift on the left down to Level 1. We are opposite the lift.
On arrival please report to reception and wait for instructions.
For maps of the hospital, information about transport and parking and contact details, please use the link below.