News Central Search Cardiovascular Lab Central Baptist Hospital's cardiovascular lab offers electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, stress testing and nuclear studies of the heart. An electrocardiogram is a recording of the heart's electrical activity on a strip of moving paper. It is one of the first tests used to diagnose heart disease, although a normal EKG doesn't guarantee that the heart and coronary arteries are normal.
Many patients receive EKGs prior to having surgery to make sure the heart is functioning normally.
Echocardiogram An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce pictures of the heart in motion. It is used to diagnose abnormalities of the heart valves, the heart muscle and the fluid-filled sac surrounding the heart. Transesophageal Echocardiogram A transesophageal echocardiogram is performed by positioning an ultrasound probe in the esophagus, behind and below the heart. It is used to diagnose the extent of heart valve disease and assess the effectiveness of valve repair or replacement surgery. Stress Testing Stress testing helps your doctor evaluate your heart at rest, while your heart rate is increasing as you exercise on a treadmill or as a result of medication, and after your heart rate reaches its peak.