Bangkok heart screen

[tavernier]

Due to a family history of strokes and into my sixties, I am aiming to get a comprehensive check for cardiac artery disease. I have narrowed my choice of hospital to Bumrungrad, Bangkok Heart Hospital or Samitivej.

Could anyone who has experience of this sort of thing advise me which would be their choice, taking into account technical expertise and communication of results. I'm not so worried about cost.

I previously thought an MRI would show up everything but they only seem to do CT scans. Is there a reason?

Also reasonable nearby hotels would be useful.

[Sheryl]

For asymptomatic people the only tests in use are Exercise Stress Test and EBCT (calcium scan by CT). Their use is controversial unless the person is at above average risk, especially the EBCT which entails radiation exposure. MRI would not be done in an asymptomatic person.

 

If there is a heart murmur or clinic signs of heart failure then echicardiogram would also be advised.

 

Any hospital can do these tests and of the three you mention there is no difference in that regard, nor in accuracy and communication.

 

If any tests come back positive then the choice of cardiologist - not of hospital - becomes very important.

 

There are countless hotels near Bumrungrad and Samitivej, in wide range of prices, just go to agoda.com or booking.com and specify Sukhumvit area.

 

For Bangkok Hospital AOne Hotel is close and reasonable.