Cardiac Services

Advanced Diagnostics and Treatments

Evangelical Community Hospital's cardiac services includes cardiac catheterization and cardiac CT, two medical procedures used to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions.

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure in which a long, thin tube is guided into the heart through a blood vessel, usually in the arm or leg. The tube, also called a cardiac catheter, allows physicians to check the internal blood pressure of the heart, the level of oxygen in the blood and view the coronary arteries on the heart. This procedure can be used to diagnose or treat a heart condition.

The 64-slice cardiac CT is a non-invasive procedure available to obtain detailed images of the heart. This scan takes minutes to perform and does not require any recovery time. "This scan provides a precise, distinct image of the heart in seconds, exposing the patient to less radiation," said Nicholas Fasano, MD, radiologist. Cardiac CT will be implemented in March, 2008.

During both procedures, dye is put into the heart to make the inside of the heart appear on x-rays. This dye can show whether the blood flow in the arteries is restricted or blocked.

Patients should consult their physician if they feel they are at risk or would like more information on how cardiac catheterization and the cardiac CT could help their individual needs.