Heart screening and imaging

Whether you are experiencing heart disease, heart failure, a heart arrhythmia or a related condition, our services help our cardiologists to identify these situations early. Doing so allows our specialists to provide treatments to keep these conditions from advancing, or possibly even prevent sudden events like heart attacks from happening in the first place.

Our cardiac cath labs operate 24/7 and are operated by a team of board-certified interventional cardiologists, cardiac nurse practitioners, registered cath lab nurses and electrophysiology technologists. Here, they use advanced minimally invasive surgical technology to perform both diagnostic and interventional treatments and tests, including:

• Blood sample collection
• Breaking up blood clots during a heart attack
• Calculating heart chamber pressure
• Diagnosing heart disease
• Measuring oxygen levels

These procedures are accomplished via a doctor placing a catheter into a blood vessel in the neck, arm or groin, then threading it into the heart. By utilizing minimally invasive techniques, we can reduce your recovery time and ensure less pain, less scarring and a shorter hospital stay.

Procedures offered at our cath labs

We perform a variety of interventions to diagnose and treat conditions such as heart failure and heart arrhythmias. Some of the coronary and peripheral intervention procedures we offer include:

• 3D mapping
• Angiogram
• Bare metal stents
• Biventricular leads
• Cardioversion
• Cutting balloon
• Drug-eluting stents
• Heart biopsy
• High-risk coronary stenting with advanced, heart-pump therapies
• Intravascular ultrasound
• Nitric oxide study for pulmonary hypertension
• Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation
• Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) stent
• Peripheral catheterization
• Peripheral PTCA stent
• Pressure wire
• Renal PTCA stent
• Rotational atherectomy
• Tilt table testing
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) and other advanced heart imaging

A coronary calcium scan, also known as a "heart scan," is a specialized X-ray that captures photos of your heart to detect and measure calcium-containing plaque in the arteries.

We offer this type of advanced scan because it allows us to identify potential coronary artery disease before you may experience symptoms. If a significant level of calcified plaque is discovered, then our heart team may prescribe certain medications or recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of life-threatening cardiac problems.

Electrophysiology involves testing the electrical system and activity within your heart. For example, if you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, your cardiologist may use an EP study to see where it is occurring in your heart.

Our hospitals include electrophysiologists, electrophysiology nurses and anesthesiologists who are specially trained to perform EP studies. They will work together to determine what treatment plan is best for you.

Our utmost concern is ensuring that you have as many options as possible to gain a proper diagnosis, no matter your condition. We monitor your heart's activity through a spectrum of imaging services, including:

• Computerized tomography angiography (CTA)
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Multidetector cardiac computerized tomography scan (MDCT)
• Nuclear imaging
• Ultrasound
• X-rays

Also known as an exercise stress test, a stress test shows how your heart performs during physical activity. Since your heart pumps harder and faster when you exercise, a stress test is able to detect any problems with blood flow within your heart.

Typically, you will be asked to walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while our cardiologists monitor your heart rhythm, blood pressure and breathing. If you already have signs of heart disease or a heart arrhythmia, a stress test may be recommended so we can determine the severity of your heart condition and form the best treatment plan for you.

Vascular testing involves a full scope of noninvasive procedures to determine blood flow, circulation or blockages in vessels outside the heart.

We offer several fully equipped peripheral vascular labs, which feature advanced imaging technology for veins and arteries. This technology provides doctors with a clear view of the vascular field, resulting in reliable detection and treatment all while only exposing you to minimal radiation.