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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States of America, claiming one life approximately every 34 seconds. Accordingly, Chilton Memorial Hospital is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of all cardiovascular disorders. From our Emergency Room care, through our inpatient units, and in our multitude of outpatient services, Chilton's team of skilled professionals delivers superior care and treats each patient as an individual. To find a cardiologist in your area, call 1-888-CHILTON or refer to the Find a Doctor section of our website.
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Angiography Suite
Cardiac catheterization services were initiated at Chilton Memorial Hospital in 1997. A diagnostic catheterization, also known as coronary angiography or heart catheterization provides detailed information about the function of the heart and its arteries. There are 13 invasive cardiologists at Chilton Memorial Hospital who perform this procedure. The majority of our outpatients receive closure devices, which allow for ambulation in 45 minutes and discharge within one hour rather than the traditional six hours of bed rest.
Primary Angioplasty
In June, 2005, the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Chilton Memorial Hospital was licensed to perform Primary Angioplasty for patients suffering from a heart attack. This minimally invasive procedure has been shown to be approximately 25% more effective than traditional medications at preventing death from heart attack. There are five interventional cardiologists on staff performing primary angioplasty at Chilton Memorial Hospital. These physicians along with a team of highly skilled nurses and technologists are available 24/7 to provide local residents with the best and most immediate cardiac care, eliminating the need to transfer to another facility.
Noninvasive Cardiac Services
Echocardiography
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart using high frequency sound waves to create a digital image of the heart's chambers and valves. Using this exam, cardiologists can assess heart size and function, evaluate the heart valves and blood flow patterns. When more detailed ultrasound imaging is required, a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) can be performed, by passing a flexible probe down the patient's throat with local anesthesia and sedation.
Cardiac Stress Testing
Treadmill stress testing evaluates the heart's response to increased activities. This test is used to diagnose coronary artery disease, and to monitor those patients with established disease. To improve the sensitivity and specificity of this test, it is sometimes combined with nuclear imaging (Stress Cardiolite) or with ultrasound imaging (Stress Echo). For those patients unable to walk on the treadmill, testing can be performed with medications in conjunction with nuclear imaging (Persantine Cardiolite).
24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) takes numerous readings of your blood pressure over a 24-hour period. This monitoring provides accurate and reliable information, which can give your doctor a clearer picture of your blood pressure than one reading taken in the office.
Cardiac Rhythm Management
Electrocardiography
An electrocardiogram (ECG) records the heart's electrical activity to detect abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmias. An ECG can also show evidence of old heart attack or acute cardiac problems.
Holter Monitoring
A Holter monitor is worn for a 24-hour period and records the electrical activity of the heart over this time. In conjunction with a patient diary it allows your physician to correlate symptoms with your heart rhythm.
Cardiac Event Monitoring
Cardiac Event Monitor are similar to Holter monitors but are worn for a longer period of time. They give physicians the ability to study the heart rhythm for up to a few months.
Cardioversion
This is a procedure used to correct an abnormal heart rhythm. The patient is first sedated by an anesthesiologist, and then an electrical impulse is applied to the chest in order to stabilize the cardiac rhythm. This procedure is sometimes done in conjunction with TEE to be sure there are no blood clots in the heart prior to cardioversion.
Pacemaker Center
Pacemakers are sometimes implanted in the body to keep the heart beating properly. The Pacemaker Center at Chilton Memorial Hospital monitors pacemakers to ensure that these devices are functioning efficiently and effectively. Pacemakers are monitored both via a telephone connection from the home, and in person at the Pacemaker Center using special programming computers.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Cardiac Rehab is an individually planned, medically supervised program of exercise training, education, stress management and nutritional counseling designed to develop and maintain a more efficient cardiovascular system and a healthier, more enjoyable lifestyle. This certified program is for individuals who have experienced angina, a heart attack, or who have undergone angioplasty or coronary bypass surgery within the last 12 months.
Peripheral Vascular Services
Peripheral Arterial Disease is the build-up of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries that supply the legs with blood. This ailment may cause intermittent claudication or pain in the legs with walking. It can also progress to critical limb ischemia, gangrene, or amputation. Despite the high prevalence of this disease, it is unfortunately under-diagnosed and frequently goes untreated until the late stages when limb loss may ensue. Chilton Memorial Hospital is committed to the early detection of peripheral arterial disease as well as treatment with the newest, least invasive methods.
Noninvasive Vascular Laboratory
By measuring the blood pressure in both the arms and the legs, as well as using ultrasound, technologists in the vascular laboratory are able to assess the blood supply to the limbs. This allows physicians to quantify and localize the obstruction to blood flow.
Peripheral Vascular Angiography and Intervention
When symptoms are severe or limb loss is possible physicians may recommend a more invasive assessment of the blood supply to the legs. An angiogram provides a roadmap of the arteries and allows the physician to best plan the treatment. Many times as an alternative to surgical bypass, minimally invasive endovascular interventions such as angioplasty or stenting are very effective at relieving symptoms and preventing tissue loss. These procedures are performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory/Angiography Suite under local anesthesia with minimal recovery time. When less invasive technologies are not possible, the vascular surgeons at Chilton Memorial Hospital provide a full spectrum of traditional surgical procedures.