SOUTHEAST GETS NOD FOR CARDIAC CATH LAB

Southeast Missouri Hospital has gotten the go-ahead to replace one of the hospital's two cardiac catherization labs.

The Missouri Health Facilities Review Commission approved the request unanimously.

The new lab will cost between $1.6 and $1.8 million. It will be paid for with accumulated savings earmarked by the hospital's board of trustees for that purpose.

"We're pleased to receive commission approval for this project," Southeast Administrator James W. Wente said.

The unit slated for replacement has been in service more than 10 years. Normal life expectancy is seven to eight years, Wente said. About 60 to 70 percent of cath lab procedures are done on the older unit.

The lab is used for procedures like balloon angioplasty, valvuloplasty, laser angioplasty and directional coronary atherectomy.