Wythenshawe Hospital Cardiac MRI

Patient information

What is Cardiac MRI?

  • Cardiac MRI or Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging is a tried and tested investigation and has the advantage of not using ionising (x-ray based) radiation

  • Some scans will require a contrast injection which does carry certain risks which your Clinician will explain to you

What happens on the day of your Cardiac MRI Scan?

  • On arrival in the unit you'll be greeted by our friendly reception staff and asked to provide the completed safety form we sent with your appointment letter. You'll then be asked to take a seat and wait to be called by one of the clinical team

  • When you are called, the clinical staff will show you to a changing cubicle where you'll be asked to change into a hospital gown. At this point, we'll normally go through and check the safety forms you completed. You'll be able to lock clothes and valuables away in a locker but we do advise that you leave non-essential items of value at home

  • We'll then call you round to the preparation area where the clinical staff will explain the scan procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. Depending on the type of scan you're having, the preparation will include recording of your height and weight, an ECG, placement of intravenous cannulas used for administering medication during the scan, as well as completion of consent forms

  • You'll then be escorted into the scan room where you'll be invited to lie on the scanner table. Various monitoring equipment and other equipment to capture the images will be placed on and around you

  • You'll be given a buzzer which you can press if you need to stop the scan. We'll also give you ear defenders to wear, through which you'll hear the instructions we need you to follow in order for us to get good images

  • Your scan will commence and will usually last between 40 and 60 minutes. Throughout your scan the radiographer will be in contact with you checking that you're alright as well as giving you the required instructions

  • On completion of your scan you'll be asked to get changed and you're then free to leave the unit. You should expect to be in the CMR unit for up to 2.5 hours

  • A Cardiologist or Radiologist will prepare a report from your scan. This will normally be sent to your referring doctor within five working days

Patient information on contrast agents and stress perfusion

* Please note that this information is accurate at the time of publication 

Learn more...

  • Our Cardiac MRI service
    With high quality images leading to a swift and accurate diagnosis, we currently provide the only dedicated Cardiac MRI scanner in the North West of England.

  • Information for clinicians
    Access academic articles from our team, CMR contrast datasets, Cardiac MRI videos and catch up on recent learning events - learn more here

  • Refer Your Patient
    Referring your patient to our Cardiac MRI facility at Wythenshawe is an easy, two-step process - get everything you need here

  • Learn More About Alliance Medical
    Within the Alliance Medical Group, we provide a broad range of diagnostic imaging services to help you deliver the very best in patient care - learn more here

  • Contact Wythenshawe Cardiac MRI
    We're here to help you every step of the way. If you have any questions, queries or concerns, it's easy to contact us.

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