Prior to Your Appointment

  • Do not drink or eat anything with caffeine for 24 hours before the MRI, as caffeine may affect the results. This includes coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate.
  • Do not eat for four hours before the MRI.

Arrival - One Hour Before the MRI

Meet with a radiology registered nurse who will:

  • Start two small IV’s.
  • Document current medications.
  • Discuss other necessary paperwork.

You will have an EKG to evaluate your current cardiac rhythm. It will be reviewed by a specially trained cardiologist or radiologist.

MRI Exam

Your MRI will occur in a spacious, open MRI scanner.

  • The test lasts approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
  • You will be lying down and will need to hold your breath for many short periods of time.
  • The scanner can be noisy, so we provide earplugs or headphones if you need them.

Stress Portion of the Exam

A drug called adenosine is injected through one of the IVs. Adenosine exists naturally in our bodies, but is given at a higher level for the test. It can cause symptoms such as tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, or a feeling of a “racing” heart while it is injected. These effects last less than a minute. Trained personnel monitor your vital signs during and after the injection. 

People with severe asthma should avoid adenosine, so let staff know if you are experiencing significant asthma symptoms. 

Contrast Imaging Portion of the Exam

After the stress portion, gadolinium is injected into the other IV. Gadolinium is a contrast agent that lets the cardiologist and radiologist get a better look at the heart muscle. There are no side effects associated with it – though it should be avoided in patients with severe kidney problems. 

Let the staff know if you have a history of kidney problems.

Appointments
414-777-7700
Request Appointment
View Specialists Treatment Locations Contact Us

Our Cardiovascular Program continues to receive recognition as one of the top programs nationally. We are honored to provide high-quality, effective care for even the most high-risk patients.

  • The Froedtert & MCW health network has built a reputation for clinical excellence and our research draws patients from around the world. Our Heart & Vascular program recognitions include:

    • Premier recognized Froedtert Hospital in 2025 as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® according to its independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard. The hospitals recognized in the top 50 operated at lower cost and had better outcomes, recording significantly higher inpatient survival rates, fewer patients with complications, lower readmission rates and up to nearly $7,000 less in total costs per patient case. Froedtert Hospital was ranked in the category of top teaching hospitals with a cardiovascular residency program. No other hospital in Wisconsin was recognized with this national distinction.
    • The International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) recognizes our Cardio-Oncology Program as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence in 2025. ICOS certification is awarded to institutions and practices that demonstrate superior expertise in the care of patients who have heart disease, are at high risk or experience heart complications with cancer treatment. The ICOS awards bronze, silver and gold certification. Of the two ICOS-certified programs in Wisconsin, we are the only one that meets the stringent requirements needed to be recognized as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence.
    • Healthgrades recognized Froedtert Hospital in its 2024 Specialty Excellence Awards, including one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery, one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention, as well as other specialty achievements in various areas.
    • Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Froedtert Hospital within its 2024 list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Heart Programs. Hospitals featured on this list are renowned for delivering superior heart and vascular care that results in high-quality outcomes. As part of a health network that includes eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center, our heart and vascular specialists treat a high volume of patients with a wide variety of heart diseases.
    • The Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI) recognized Froedert Hospital as a Carotid Care Quality Champion by the SVS VQI‘s clinical registry recognition program in 2024. The VQI recognizes select centers across the country as Carotid Care Quality Champions for their dedication to improving the safety and effectiveness of vascular care through participation and engagement in VQI’s carotid artery stenting and/or carotid endarterectomy registries.
    • The American Heart Association recognized Froedtert Hospital with the following awards that show our commitment to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks.
      • Get With the Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus Award
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
      • Get With the Guidelines® AFib Gold Award
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Resuscitation Target CPR; Resuscitation Gold — Audit; Resuscitation Target Survival
    • Froedtert Hospital earned the American Heart Association (AHA) Commitment to Quality award, a new AHA recognition, in 2025. The award recognizes adherence to the latest, research-based clinical guidelines to support better outcomes for patients.
    • In addition, the hospital was recognized on the American Heart Association’s Target: Heart Failure(SM) Honor Roll and received the AHA’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award.

Blogs, Patient Stories, Videos and Classes