Chest Pain Evaluation Unit

Chest pain is usually associated as a warning sign of a heart attack. However, other illnesses can present chest pain such as:

• Indigestion
• Pleurisy
• Pneumonia
• Angina Pectoris – recurring chest pain or discomfort that happens when some part of the heart does not receive enough blood.
• Cardiac Sarcomas - type of tumor that occurs in the heart
• Coronary heart disease (CHD) - is characterized by the accumulation of fatty deposits along the innermost layer of the coronary arteries. The fatty deposits may develop in childhood and continue to thicken and enlarge throughout the life span. This thickening, called atherosclerosis, narrows the arteries and can decrease or block the flow of blood to the heart.
• Heart Valve Disease - Heart valves can have one of two malfunctions: regurgitation and stenosis. When heart valves fail to open and close properly, the implications for the heart can be serious, possibly hampering the heart's ability to pump blood adequately through the body.
• Pericarditis - is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac (membrane) that surrounds the heart.
• Other disorders

For individuals experiencing chest pain, the Chest Pain Evaluation Unit (CPEU) provides rapid evaluation, diagnosis and treatment — all in an environment that is dedicated to cardiac care. The Chest Pain Evaluation Unit is located within the St. John’s Mercy Heart and Vascular Hospital in St. Louis, MO and features all private rooms.

The unit is separate from the hospital emergency room and is staffed by experienced cardiovascular physicians and nurses. 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.

The St. John’s Mercy Chest Pain Evaluation Unit is accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, making it one of only four accredited centers in the St. Louis area.

If you or someone you know exhibits any warning signs of a heart attack, act immediately. Call 911, or your local emergency number.