Non-Invasive Cardiology & Peripheral Vascular Service
SouthCrest Hospital offers a wide variety of non-invasive cardiac testing procedures utilizing state-of-the-art digital imaging equipment including Echocardiography, stress testing, EKG’s, heart monitoring equipment and more.
Two cardiac ultrasound machines, two treadmill machines and 24 hour and 48 hour Holters are available for testing. Event monitoring is also available.
SouthCrest offers the following types of Echocardiograms:
- Transthorasic
- Transesphogeal
- Stress Echo
Echocardiography: Uses high frequency sound waves to produce a two dimensional image of the heart. Echocardiography is used to evaluate the heart’s size, shape and structures.
Transthoracic: Non-invasive procedure involving moving a transducer to different locations on the chest and abdominal walls. It may also be used to do a Doppler study that measures the direction and speed of blood flowing through the heart.
Transesphogeal: Invasive procedure that records images of the heart from inside the esophagus, or food pipe. These images help doctors identify and treat problems such as infections, diseases or defects in your hearts’ walls or valves.
Stress Echocardiography: Non-invasive procedure that records the heart before and after exercise. By comparing the images, the doctor can determine whether the heart is getting enough blood to meet its increased demand for oxygen.
Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography: This type of echocardiogram uses the drug Dobutamine and sound waves to indicate whether or not blood vessels in the heart are blocked.
SouthCrest offers many tests for heart arrhythmias: 
- ECG’s
- Exercise Stress Testing
- Holter monitoring
- Event monitoring.
Electrocardiogram: (aka: ECG) The ECG records the electrical activity (signals) from the heart onto a graphed paper.
Exercise Stress Testing: An exercise stress test shows the heart’s response to exercise. The test records the heartbeat while you walk on a treadmill. Stress tests include Nuclear stress testing and pharmacological stress testing.
Holter Monitor 24 & 48 hours: A small lightweight unit with electrodes attached to the chest that records heartbeat away from the doctor’s office. It may be strapped onto a belt or kept in the pocket.
Event Monitoring 30 Days: The event monitor is similar to the Holter monitor except the patient records heartbeat as symptoms are felt.
If you have any questions about any of the above testing procedures please call:
For more information please contact:
Non-Invasive Cardiology Manager
Voice (918) 294.4125
Fax (918) 294.4776
Peripheral Vascular Services
We can help you detect Peripheral Arterial Disease. 
Unfortunately, there are often no symptoms or warning signs for peripheral arterial disease. You may want to keep these symptoms in mind in the event that one of your patients experiences any of the following:
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Poor wound healing
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Cold legs
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Constant leg pain, tingling, burning or loss of sensation
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Pain during exercise, which is relieved during rest
Our Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) screening can help identify Peripheral Arterial Disease so that you can take corrective action. The ABI is a simple non-invasive test that measures the index ratio of the blood pressure in the ankles to that in the arms. This index can indicate if there is a potential vascular problem.
The following are contributing factors that often lead to peripheral arterial disease:
Controllable:
• Diabetes
• Lack of exercise
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Poor diet
• Excessive alcohol use
Uncontrollable:
• Age
• History of Coronary Artery Disease
• Family history
Since there are risk factors that cannot be controlled, it is important to be checked on a regular basis by having a preventive health screening.
It is estimated that 8 to 12 million Americans are affected by peripheral arterial disease.
The same plaque that causes coronary artery disease causes peripheral arterial disease. Frequently plaque is not confined to one artery but may involve arteries in other areas as well.
Some of the more commonly affected peripheral areas are the arteries in the legs, arms, kidneys and neck. Some patients may have both coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease.
Patients who have peripheral arterial disease have an increased risk for angina, fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction or heart attacks than those who do not.