Lists of Hospital Services

Physician Referral Service

Pastoral Care Services

Hospital Gift Shop

Home Page

Cardiovascular Service Center

With heart disease being the Number One Killer in the United States, cardiovascular health plays a prominent role in the equation for good health. No matter what your risk level, now is the best time to start taking care of your heart. Our Cardiovascular Service Center offers a comprehensive array of programs, services and patient education in Northwest Indiana.

Our ability to precisely identify the nature of a heart problem enables our team to implement the most effective course of medical intervention. We offer the latest, non-invasive and minimally invasive diagnostic procedures available in Northwest Indiana.

EPS

An Electrophysiology Study (EPS) is a procedure performed first to determine the presence of arrythmias and then develop possible therapies for the condition.

Non-invasive Cardiovascular Testing

These studies use instrumentation that remains outside the body, such as the traditional x-ray or MRI. Other methods used to gain precise information include:

• Electrocardiogram (EKG) - A printed record of the electrical activity of the heart, used to detect abnormal heart rhythms.
• Signal average EKG - A specialized EKG test that may be used for patients who are susceptible to sudden irregular heartbeats.
• Stress testing - Heart rate, blood pressure and EKG responses are collected during exercise to evaluate the heart's response.
• Echocardiogram (ECHO) - A color image of the heart using sound waves, which reveals abnormalities of heart muscles or valves and fluid around the heart. We also offer stress and pediatric echocardiography.
• Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) - Looks at the heart from inside the esophagus.
• Holter monitoring and scanning (adult and pediatric) - Patients wear a small monitor at home, which tracks any abnormal rhythms.
• Tilt Testing - Evaluates how changes in posture may affect blood pressure and heart rhythm.
• Arterial, Venous and Carotid Doppler Studies - Sound waves detect blockages, abnormal pressure and blood clots in the various blood vessels.

Invasive Cardiovascular Procedures

St. Catherine opened the first Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory in Northwest Indiana and we've been on the front lines of cardiac care ever since.

• Cardiac Catheterization - A minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that allows physicians to view and take blood samples from the chambers of the heart and measure pressures within the heart.
• Carotid/Cerebral angiography - Views the carotid and vertebral arteries.
• Visceral angiography - Views the visceral arteries—the vessels or organs in the abdomen.
• Coronary arteriograms - View the coronary arteries.
• Peripheral arteriograms - Views arteries in the upper and lower extremities.
• Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) - Images are captured from which a special computer produces highly enhanced pictures of the heart and arteries.

Interventional Cardiology

A variety of heart conditions can now be treated without surgery. St. Catherine Hospital is on the leading edge of these special techniques, which include:

• Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PCTA) - This technique widens a narrowing in the coronary artery using balloons inserted with a catheter.
• Peripheral angioplasty - Performed in the arteries of the lower or upper extremities.
• Coronary and peripheral stents - Using a balloon catheter, tiny wire mesh tubes are inserted into blockages , allowing blood to flow freely.
• Electrophysiology/Ablation - Used to treat arrhythmia with radio waves sent through a catheter to destroy abnormal pathways or cells.
• Coronary and peripheral atherectomy - The removal of plaque within a narrowed artery using a special catheter device called a Rotoblator.
• Thrombolytic therapy - Uses medication to dissolve blood clots in the heart, legs or other major blood vessels.
• Electroneurodiagnostics - Includes Electroencephalogram (EEG), Evoked Potential (EP), 24-hour Ambulatory (EEG) and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS).

Surgical Treatment

As the first in Northwest Indiana to perform open-heart surgery, St. Catherine Hospital is the area's leading choice for cardiovascular surgery. Should this course of treatment be recommended, our cardiac surgeons have extensive experience in performing open-heart surgery.

• Coronary bypass surgery - A healthy blood vessel is taken from the patient's leg or chest wall and used to detour around the blocked section of a coronary artery. Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass (MICAB) surgery is also used, depending upon the patient's condition.
• Heart-valve surgery - Repairs or replaced damaged heart valves.
• Pacemaker implantation - Corrects heart rhythm disturbances using an artificial device that sends electric signals to the heart.
• Arrhythmia surgery (implantable defibrillator) - An artificial device is implanted which continually monitors heart rhythms. When arrhythmia occurs, it automatically “shocks” the heart muscle to restore normal heartbeat.
• Thoracic aorta repair - Can be sued in cases of thoracic aorta aneurysms, traumatic injury or dissection resulting from hypertension or other medical conditions.
• Emergency heart surgery - Our cardiac surgery team is on call to treat trauma victims, heart attack victims and other patients who may require emergency heart surgery.