FORT SMITH - Sparks Health System celebrated the opening of a new Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Sparks Regional Medical Center with a ribbon cutting and tour with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The new cardiac catheterization laboratory, or "cath lab," is the fourth procedure room of its type at the hospital. The room performs important imaging functions that view inside patients' hearts and blood vessels to see if they have heart disease. Working together, physicians and nurses perform both diagnostic cath procedures, as well as provide emergent care during heart attack, like placing a stent in a blocked artery.

In addition to the space, Sparks has also invested in the latest technology in order to meet the demand for cardiac care and provide valve replacement surgery for patients diagnosed with valve disease, like aortic stenosis.

A construction crew broke ground on the cath lab expansion in August and cardiology staff will begin utilizing the room this week. The 1,600 square foot expansion is located on the southeast corner of the hospital and connects to the existing cath and cardiology procedure areas.

Sparks is an accredited Chest Pain Center by the American College of Cardiology. Nearly 5,000 procedures were performed in the cath labs at Sparks last year and that number is expected to grow as more people struggle with high blood pressure, obesity and heart disease.