The CMC/Saint Thomas Heart Institute is a joint venture cardiac catheterization lab that opened in February, 2003.

The Cath Lab is equipped to perform catheterization procedures Monday through Friday. A cardiac catheterization is an important diagnostic procedure used to detect coronary artery disease and defective heart valves. It provides more detailed information than other diagnostic tests for the heart.

Other terms used to describe cardiac catheterization include coronary angiography, angiogram, coronary arteriogram, cardiac cath, and heart cath. This diagnostic tool allows a cardiologist to precisely determine how well the heart is pumping and to examine blood flow through the heart arteries. This procedure guides the physician in choosing the most effective treatment for the patient.

For more information regarding the services, contact the department at 459-7171.