The Mercy Medical Center Cardiology Services team offers a complete range of diagnostic services to patients with possible heart conditions. These procedures assist your physician in evaluating your condition and planning your treatment. In addition to the diagnostic services available through Mercy’s Cardiology Department, the following rehabilitation services are also available.

The procedures performed in the Cardiology Services Department are:

ECHOCARDIOGRAM OR ECHOS

This is a procedure that is performed on the heart using an ultrasound. It is non-invasive and is performed to evaluate structural heart problems.

The technologist will ask you to lie on your left side and a small transducer, resembling a microphone, and a gel will be applied to your left chest wall. Using the ultrasound, the technologist captures live digital 2-D, color Doppler and sound images of the heart in motion. Many different angles and positions of the heart are captured to reassure that all areas of the heart are imaged and visualized.

The images are evaluated by a Cardiologist to determine the possible presence of any heart muscle injury, heart valve regurgitation (leaks), heart valve stenosis(narrowing), and/or heart enlargement.

Another procedure that involves an ECHO is a TEE (Transesophageal Echocardiogram). This enables a cardiologist to obtain images of your heart from inside the esophagus. Since the esophagus tube is so close to the heart, this test produces clearer images of your heart structure and blood flow. This procedure does require the patient to check into the hospital 90 minutes prior to the procedure. Following the procedure, the patient will remain in the recovery area for a few hours due to the medication that is given at the time of the procedure. Since a tube is placed down your throat, the medication is used to assist the patient in relaxing.

HEART MONITORS

A Heart Monitor is a small portable recorder that records your heart rhythm. There are two different types of Heart Monitors and your physician determines which monitor is best suited for you depending on your symptoms.

An Event Monitor or 7 day Monitor is usually used for patients with infrequent cardiac symptoms. This monitor requires 2 ECG electrodes to be attached to the chest. The patient wears the monitor as much as possible and is asked to press a button on the recorder when they feel heart related symptoms, such as dizziness, palpitations, etc. The patient is asked to write down these symptoms in a Diary that is sent home with them. A set of supplies are given to the patient, along with the instructions, on how to attach and prepare the monitor for the next recording.

A 24 Hour Holter Monitor automatically records your ECG signal for 24 hrs continuously. 5 ECG electrodes are attached to the patient’s chest and a small monitor with a clock is worn around the waist. During the 24 hours, the patient is given a Diary where he/she writes down the time and severity of his/her symptoms as they occur.

We all have a heart and here at Mercy Medical Center, we want to make sure we keep your heart working like it suppose to. These recorders enable us to determine if your heart is doing some extra beating or maybe not beating enough.

STRESS TEST

Here at Mercy Medical Center, we perform a wide variety of different Stress Tests. These all are exams that are done to look at your heart rhythm while it is being stressed or exerted, either by an administration of a medication or just by walking on a treadmill. Choosing the method of stressing the heart is determined by your physician and depends on the patient’s needs and exercise limitations.

A Treadmill Stress Test is a procedure that allows the cardiologist to record your heart rhythm, (EKG), and blood pressure while you walk on a treadmill. You will start walking on the treadmill slowly and then gradually increase the speed and incline. The cardiologists will end the test when the heart speeds up enough to determine if there are any abnormalities or evidence of Heart Disease. This entire procedure usually takes about 45 minutes.

A Treadmill Stress Echocardiogram Test is just adding Ultrasound images of your heart prior to having you walk on the Treadmill and than as soon as the cardiologists finishes have you walk on the Treadmill, you will be asked to lay down and some more Ultrasound images will be taken of your heart to see how well your chambers of your heart pump while under stress. This entire procedure will take about 60 minutes.

Another type of stress test is a Nuclear Stress Test. A medication (Dobutamine, Adenosine, and/or a Nuclear Isotope) is used to gradually stress the heart due to the inability of a patient to walk on a treadmill. It may involve coming to the hospital to get the Nuclear Isotope injected and than the first set of pictures/images taken and than asked to return back to the hospital in 45 minutes. This entire procedure will usually take about 3 hours.

During all of the stress tests, there is always a cardiologist or Nurse Practitioner present, along with a technologist and possibly a nurse to monitor the patient closely.