Patient Stories
A minimally invasive approach in heart care... Read Margaret's story
Diagnostic Procedures
Successful treatment begins with a fast, accurate diagnosis. At St. Luke's, doctors have access to the most sophisticated tools and procedures available to diagnose heart conditions. The result for you? Faster treatments and better outcomes.
Accredited Chest Pain Center
St. Luke's Accredited Chest Pain Center is an innovative collaboration between our Emergency Department (ED) and Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab). During a heart attack every moment that an artery is blocked damages the tissue. To battle that effect, the Emergency Department and Cath Lab developed a process to get heart attack patients who come into the ED to the Cath Lab as quickly as possible. Our patient statistics show that this process successfully works. The national average for time to treat a heart attack is 90 minutes. At St. Luke's, our average is 68 minutes. When every minute counts - that number speaks for itself.
Electrophysiology lab
St. Luke's Electrophysiology (EP) Lab is one of the most technologically advanced facilities in the state. Doctors in the EP Lab perform specialized procedures, such as implanting pacemakers and defibrillators.
St. Luke's is the first hospital in the state to use the Hansen Sensei Robotic® Catheter System in the EP Lab. The Sensei Robotic Catheter System is used to treat patients with abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) with pinpoint precision. Patients treated with this minimally-invasive procedure are back to their everyday activities quickly - sometimes in a matter of days.
Catheterization lab
In the Cath Lab procedures are performed to diagnosis arterial blockages. During catheterization, a long, flexible tube is used to insert dye into the arteries of the heart. The dye illuminates the blockage letting cardiologists see its size and location. Doctors can then develop a custom treatment plan.
Vascular Lab
Our Vascular Lab helps doctors diagnose and evaluate circulatory problems through sophisticated, non-invasive screening methods. Procedures in the Vascular Lab allow doctors to detect life-threatening blockages and narrowing of arteries.
The most common conditions diagnosed in the vascular lab are:
- 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
Patient resources
Whether it's preventing heart disease, diagnosing a condition or providing the best possible care, we're dedicated to your heart health.
Sign up for St. Luke's Heart Check, five heart tests that could save your life. Our Heart Scan, is another way doctors can access your risk for heart disease.
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
If you have questions or would like more information, e-mail us or call 319/369-7318.
