Diagnostic Procedures

Using the most sophisticated tools and and advanced procedures available, doctors can quickly, accurately diagnose and treat your heart condition in St. Luke's accredited Chest Pain Center.

• On average, heart attack patients are treated 22 minutes faster at St. Luke's than most hospitals across the nation.
• We developed a process to quickly move heart attack patients from the Emergency Department (ED) to our Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab).
• As a result, we remove the blockage in your artery sooner, which lessens tissue damage and offers you a better outcome.

Catheterization Lab

Arterial blockage is diagnosed during cardiac catheterization. Dye is inserted into the arteries of the heart using a long, flexible tube. The dye illuminates the blockage, allowing cardiologists to see its size and location. Doctors then develop a custom treatment plan.

Electrophysiology Lab

Specialized procedures, such as implanting pacemakers and defibrillators, are performed in St. Luke's Electrophysiology (EP) Lab. One of the most technologically advanced facilities in the state, our EP Lab treats patients with abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). The minimally invasive procedure uses pinpoint precision, allowing patients to return to everyday activities quickly - sometimes in a matter of days.

Vascular Lab

Doctors diagnose and evaluate circulatory problems such as life-threatening blockages and narrowing of arteries, through sophisticated, noninvasive screening methods in the Vascular lab. The most common conditions diagnosed include:

• Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) - blood flow to the extremities is restricted
• Occlusive disease - a complete block of blood flow through a vessel
• Vasospastic disorders - blood vessel spasms; results in decreased vessel opening
• Aneurysm - weakening of the inner wall of a blood vessel; leads to vessel ballooning out of shape
• Malformation
• Fistula - abnormal connection between two vessels
• Small vascular tumor

Learn more about common diagnostic procedures:

• Echocardiograms
• Electrophysiology Study
• Event Monitors
• External Cardioversion
• Holter Monitors (Ambulatory EKGs)
• Myocardial Perfusion Scan (also known as Nuclear Stress Testing)
• Stress Echocardiogram
• Tilt Table
• Trans-Esophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
• Treadmill Stress Test

Patient resources

We're working hard to help you prevent heart disease, assess your risk for developing a heart condition and find heart disease early.

• St. Luke's Heart Check - five tests to assess your heart, vascular and stroke health
• Heart Scan - a CT scan to identify plaque in your coronary arteries

If you have questions or would like more information, e-mail us or call 319/369-7318.