What Is Cardiac Clearance?
Cardiac clearance — also called a pre-surgical cardiology evaluation or pre-operative cardiac evaluation — is a medical assessment performed by a cardiologist to determine whether your heart is healthy enough for surgery or anesthesia. Your surgeon, primary care physician, or specialist may request cardiac clearance before any elective or urgent procedure.
At Tampa Heart and Vascular Associates, our board-certified cardiologists, Dr. Konstantinos Marmagkiolis, MD, MBA, FACC, FSCAI, and Dr. Jaime Caballero, MD, perform thorough cardiac clearance evaluations using in-house advanced imaging technology. You receive same-day results and a written clearance letter that can be sent directly to your surgical team.
Who Needs Cardiac Clearance?
Your doctor may order cardiac clearance if you:
- Are scheduled for surgery and have a history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or arrhythmia
- Are over 50 years old and preparing for a procedure requiring general anesthesia
- Have experienced chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations recently
- Are having orthopedic, bariatric, urologic, gynecologic, or general surgery
- Have never had a cardiac evaluation and your surgeon requires one before proceeding
Even patients with no known heart conditions may require clearance depending on the type of surgery and anesthesia involved.
What's Included in a Cardiac Clearance Evaluation?
Our cardiac clearance visit typically includes:
- Comprehensive medical history review — heart conditions, medications, prior surgeries, family history
- Physical examination — listening to heart and lung sounds, blood pressure, pulse
- Resting EKG (electrocardiogram) — included with every clearance visit
- Echocardiogram — if indicated by your history or exam findings (performed in-house, same day)
- Stress test — if required by your surgeon or based on your risk profile (performed in-house, same day)
- Written clearance letter — provided to your surgical team the same day
All testing is performed on-site at our Tampa facility. You do not need to visit a separate imaging center or hospital for your evaluation.
Same-Day Cardiac Clearance — Tampa's First and Fastest!
Surgery schedules move quickly. When your surgeon needs cardiac clearance before your procedure, waiting days or weeks for an appointment is not an option. Tampa Heart and Vascular Associates was the first cardiology practice in Tampa to offer dedicated same-day cardiac clearance, and we continue to be the fastest option in the area.
Same-day appointments are available Monday through Friday. Call us first thing in the morning at (813) 873-0000 and we will schedule your evaluation for that same day. Results and clearance letters are provided before you leave the office.
Cardiac Clearance Pricing
We accept most major insurance plans. For patients without insurance or those who prefer to pay out of pocket, our self-pay cash prices are transparent and affordable:
- Cardiac Clearance with EKG: $200
- New Patient Consultation with EKG: $200
- Echocardiogram (if needed): quoted at time of scheduling
No hidden fees. No surprise bills. Call us to verify your insurance coverage before your visit.
What to Bring to Your Cardiac Clearance Appointment
- Photo ID and insurance card
- List of all current medications (or bring the pill bottles)
- Any prior cardiac records, EKGs, or stress test results
- Your surgeon's pre-op orders or referral (if provided)
- The name and contact information for your surgical team
If you are being seen urgently, do not worry if you don't have all of this — we will work with what you have.
How Long Does a Cardiac Clearance Take?
Most cardiac clearance evaluations are completed in one visit lasting 60–90 minutes, including check-in, exam, EKG, and clearance letter preparation. If additional testing such as an echocardiogram is needed, plan for up to 2 hours. We are efficient and respect your time — our process is designed to get your clearance done the same day.