St. Joseph Heart Center performed the first cardiac catheterization in the Brazos Valley in 1988.  It now performs thousands of these procedures annually.  It continues to be the most innovative lab in the region as it seeks new technology and techniques to benefit the patient. 

The complexity of the heart's structure and function often requires a look from inside the heart to determine the nature and extent of heart-related conditions. We feature four Catheterization Labs that perform the latest diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization and Therapeutic Interventional procedures. These procedures allow our cardiologist to evaluate the chambers of the heart, arteries, and blood flow and will reveal any abnormalities in the heart's structure. The highly skilled, veteran cath lab team of nurses (RN, LVN) and technologists (RCIS, CVT, RT) have over 75 years of combined experience and contribute to our reputation as a leader in cardiovascular care.

Patients requiring heart catheterization typically arrive as an outpatient so that, upon arrival, they can be quickly prepared for the procedure.  Family members can, in most instances, accompany the patient as they are prepared for their procedure.