The following are the comprehensive and advanced diagnostic tests St. Anthony’s provides to the region:

Heart Scan
A Heart Scan is a CT scan conducted on St. Anthony’s 16-slice CT scanner measuring the calcium load in the coronary arteries which can lead to future cardiac events, such as a heart attack.  The patient just lies down and relaxes as the CT scanner conducts the scan – there are no injections or radioactive dyes.  The information provided by the scan can be used by the physician to recommend appropriate interventions.

Stress Test
A stress test, sometimes called a treadmill test or nuclear stress test, helps determines how well the heart handles work.  As the patient walks on a treadmill, pedals a stationary bike or is given medication to increase the heart rate, an EKG machine monitors the heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, the electrical activity of the heart, and how tired you become. Most commonly ordered is a nuclear stress test where an injection of an isotope (a non-harmful radioactive tracer) into the veins makes heart chambers and blood vessels visible.  After the exercise portion of the test and also after a period of rest, a special camera (nuclear scanner) will take pictures of the heart, helping show the portions of the heart not receiving proper blood flow.

Laboratory Tests
St. Anthony’s offers a variety of top-of-the-line laboratory tests that detect cardiac biomarkers.  Used for diagnostic purposes, cardiac biomarkers are enzymes, proteins, and hormones that are associated with heart function, damage or failure. 

Holter Monitor
Holter monitoring involves wearing an EKG recorder attached by electrodes to the skin for 24 to 48 hours.  The monitor records all heart beats as the patient goes about his or her daily routine.

Event Monitor
An event monitor is similar to a Holter Monitor, except it is used to record the heart beat when he/she feels symptoms.  The EKG is then transmitted into a central station for analysis.

Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An EKG is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart at rest.  Electrodes placed on the body detect heart rhythms.

Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound test which uses sound waves to record the heart’s internal structure.  High-frequency sound waves reflect off internal structures producing echoes that are processed into an image of the heart.  St. Anthony’s offers echocardiograms with state-of the-art equipment for both adult and pediatric patients.

Vascular Studies
Vascular studies are ultrasound tests performed to assess the blood flow in the arteries and/or veins of the arms, legs, abdomen, and neck.

Blood Pressure Monitor
A blood pressure monitor monitors blood pressure for a 24-hour period.