Testing & Procedures
To ensure you receive the most appropriate care, your cardiologist may recommend a series of tests to measure and evaluate your heart's function. These tests are necessary to diagnose the presences of heart disease and help in making the decision on how to treat the disease, as well as the potential for any heart-related procedures.
Angiogram & Angioplasty
Cardiac catherization involves passing a catheter (a thin flexible tube) into the right or left side of the heart. In general, this procedure is performed to obtain diagnostic information about the heart or its blood vessels or to provide treatment in certain types of heart conditions.
Cardiac catheterization can be used to determine pressure and blood flow in the heart chambers, collect blood samples from the heart, and examine the arteries of the heart. Learn more.
Anticoagulation Care
Mercy’s Anticoagulation Center (MAC) manages patients who are currently taking anticoagulants. Care is individualized and tailored to the patient’s specific needs to the right anticoagulant, including monitoring and proper dosing to ensure patient safety.
The MAC program includes:
Education:
- Diet
- Review of medications you are currently taking
- Drug and food interactions
- Support services and resources that are available
Individualized Care Plan:
- Provide you with access to a team of specialists if needed
- Discuss strategies and a treatment plan to assist in decreasing the risk for bleeding events
Discharge Care includes:
- Patient update sent to referring family doctor and/or cardiologist
- Ongoing monitoring of lab values and dosing as needed
- Patients receive an educational guide focused on living with anticoagulation therapies
Mercy’s Anticoagulation Center hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A physician referral is required. For more information, contact Mercy Cardiology Clinic at (319) 832-2328.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Following a heart attack, bypass surgery or other cardiac event, recovery begins with a program of education and low-intensity exercises. Cardiac rehabilitation helps you regain and build your strength, so you can reduce the risk of future heart problems. Mercy’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program consists of Phase I Inpatient and Phase II Outpatient classes. Learn more.
Echocardiography
Echocardiography (Echo) is an imaging test that uses safe sound waves to evaluate your heart muscle and valves. Learn more.
Heart & Valve Surgery
Mercy’s Heart Center provides heart and valve surgical care for patients with a broad spectrum of heart conditions. Our team – including highly skilled interventional cardiologists, as well as an electrophysiologist and cardiothoracic surgeon – combine their expertise with the latest procedures and technological advances to perform a variety of both open and minimally invasive surgical procedures. Learn more.
Nuclear Cardiology
Nuclear Cardiology has played an important role in diagnosing the presence and extent of heart disease. It also aids in predicting coronary artery disease outcomes.
Nuclear cardiology studies use noninvasive techniques to assess blood flow to the heart muscle, to evaluate the pumping function of the heart, and to visualize the size and location of a heart attack.
During a nuclear stress test, a small amount of a safe chemical is injected into the blood stream during rest and also during exercise or chemical stress. A scanning device is used to measure absorption of the chemical by the heart. If there is significant blockage of a coronary artery, the heart muscle may not get enough blood supply during exercise or chemical stress. This decrease in blood flow will be detected by the images shown on the nuclear camera.
A nuclear study can also be used to assess heart function (the pumping function of the heart). A small dose of a chemical is injected into the blood stream and pictures of the four chambers of the heart are taken using the camera. These techniques can also provide information about the function of the valves of the heart, the integrity of all the cardiac chambers, and the effects of different drugs on the heart.
The evaluation of cardiac function using a nuclear camera is accurate and continues to play a critical role in predicting outcomes in patients with heart disease.
Stress Tests
This test helps detect heart disease by providing your cardiologist with information about how your heart tolerates exercise stress. A technician will attach electrodes to your chest to monitor your heart's electrical activity (ECG) during and after exercise. You will be asked to exercise on a treadmill until you feel that you need to stop due to fatigue, shortness of breath or chest discomfort. Depending on your medical history and exercise capabilities, a medication may be substituted for physical exercise. Learn more.
