Sharonne N. Hayes, M.D.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate patient satisfaction, comfort, and trust in interacting with an avatar compared with speaking to a human clinician.

The purpose of the research is to identify mutations (defects in the genetic blueprint) that cause spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), in other words, spontaneous tears in blood vessels that supply the heart.

Some mutations may be inherited (passed on) from a parent without an apparent blood vessel problem while others may develop for the first time in the affected person.

The purpose of this study is to perform and analyze standard transthoracic echocardiography with contrast and strain imaging in 80 consecutive patients seen in the Mayo Clinic Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) Clinic and interpret any prior pre- or post-SCAD echocardiogram studies for comparison.