Diagnostic Procedures
Saint Joseph Hospital
2900 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60657
773-665-3187
Map
- Electrocardiograms (EKG or ECG) - Records the heart's electrical activity and documents heart rhythm.
- Holter Monitoring - Involves wearing a small monitor with electrodes to continuously record the EKG for a 24-hour period.
- Transtelephonic Monitoring - Involves wearing a monitor for a 30-day period to capture and record cardiac events.
- Echocardiogram or Cardiac Ultrasound (ECHO) - Provides views/moving pictures of the heart that measure chamber size, wall thickness, blood flow, valve function and wall motion.
- Cardiac Nuclear Imaging - Involves the use of safely administered radioactive materials to evaluate regional blood supply to the heart and heart function.
- Stress Tests - Provides information about blood flow to the heart during exercise. Saint Joseph Hospital offers various stress tests - including the conventional stress test in which a patient walks on a treadmill, and the pharmacologic stress test in which a drug is injected to simulate the effects of exercise on the heart. In either case, heart function and regional blood supply to the heart muscle is evaluated by echocardiogram, nuclear imaging and/or EKG.
- Cardiac Catheterization - A qualified cardiologist places a catheter through a patient's blood vessel with X-ray guidance to take photos of the heart, arteries and heart chambers. This procedure can also be used to assess and measure heart valves and coronary arteries. Most patients are able to go home the same day if no further intervention is needed. The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can respond within 30 minutes for emergency procedures.
- Peripheral Angiogram - A qualified cardiologist places a catheter through a blood vessel with X-ray guidance to take photos of the arteries in the legs, arms or abdomen. The renal arteries can also be evaluated with this procedure. Most patients are able to go home the next day if no further intervention is needed.
