Cardiology and Heart Disease

Cardiology is the clinical study and practice of treating the heart. The heart is the hardest working muscle in the human body. Located almost in the center of the chest, the adult human heart is about the size of two fists held side-by-side.

The cardiovascular system, composed of the heart and blood vessels, is responsible for circulating blood throughout the body to supply the body with oxygen and nutrients.

The heart is the muscle that pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients through the blood vessels to the body tissues. It is made up of four chambers (two atria and two ventricles) that receive blood from the body and pump out blood to it. When the cardiovascular system is diseased or damaged a cardiology specialist referred to as a cardiologist is the specialist physician to diagnose and treat any cardio related sickness.

• Detection and Diagnosis
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Electrophysiology studies
    • Tilt table testing
    • Electrocardiograms (including signal average)
  • Cardiac nuclear medicine
  • Noninvasive testing
    • CT Cardiac Scoring
    • Echocardiography (transthoracic, transesophageal)
    • Electrocardiograms (EKGs)
    • Event monitoring
    • Holter monitoring
    • MUGA scans
    • Stress testing (exercise and pharmacologic induced
• Treatments:
• Open heart surgery
• Catheter ablation/Stereotaxis
• Balloon angioplasty and artery stenting
• Artery bypass grafting and cardiac laser surgery
• Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery
• Aortic aneurysm repair
• Inserting closure devices for atrial septal defects
• Implanting bi-ventricular pacemakers and defibrilators
• Minimally invasive cardiac surgery

• Women's Heart Health
• Prevention
• Rehabilitation
• Clinical Trials

The Heart Hospital, located on the St. John's Mercy Medical Center Campus in St. Louis, provides a wide spectrum of cardiology services focused on prevention, early detection and diagnosis, intervention and rehabilitation services. From open heart surgery to minimally-invasive techniques to cutting edge imagery, St. John’s Mercy expert cardiologists offer top-notch care.

In addition, our on-site chest pain evaluation unit is one of only two in St. Louis accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. This team of specialists provides expertise in chest pain evaluation and rapid response to acute coronary syndromes and other conditions. For some patients, this could mean faster treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack.

For more information about the St. John's Mercy Heart Hospital, please call 1-866-78-HEART.