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 St. John's Mercy Heart and Vascular Services
St. John's Mercy Heart and Vascular
offers an extensive range of
cardiovascular services.
- Adenosine Nuclear
Stress Test
For patients who are unable to exercise on a treadmill because of a health
condition, it is possible to mimic exercise by injecting an intravenous medication
called adenosine. Approximate office time for this test is 3 to 4 hours. (See
also Nuclear stress test)
- Cardiology Consultation
If you are experiencing symptoms or have had any testing that may be associated
with a heart problem, we know you are anxious to discuss your concerns. Your
primary care physician has referred you to our cardiologists because we devote
as much time as you need to determine a diagnosis and establish options for
treatment.
- Carotid Doppler
The
carotid arteries are the main blood supply to the brain. These arteries are
located on either side of the neck. A
carotid doppler is a noninvasive procedure that measures blood flow through
these vessels. Approximate
office time for this test is 60 minutes. Want more information?
- Congestive
Heart Failure Management
Although the cause of your congestive heart failure dictates your treatment
protocol, your physician will also consider many factors from your age to
your tolerance for various therapies. Ultimately, the goal is to improve
your quality of life by making appropriate lifestyle changes and implementing
drug therapy. Want more information?
- Dobutamine
Stress Echocardiography
For patients who are unable to exercise on a treadmill because of a health
condition, it is possible to mimic exercise by injecting an intravenous medication
called dobutamine. Dobutamine causes the heart to beat faster in the same
way that it does during exercise. Approximate office time for this test is
2 hours. (See also Stress Echocardiography) Want more information?
- Echocardiography / Echocardiograms
A transducer, which is similar to a microphone, is placed on your chest.
This is a noninvasive procedure that uses sound waves to assess the structure
of the heart, size of the heart’s chambers, valve function and
overall strength. Echocardiography detects heart diseases, including
atherosclerosis, aneurysm, cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, congenital
defects, congestive heart failure, vascular disease and many more. Echocardiograms
may also involve special types of echocardiography, such as M-Mode, Doppler,
Color Doppler or 2-D (2-dimensional). These special types of echocardiography
give our physicians more detailed views of the heart. Approximate
office time for this test is 60 minutes. Want
more information?
- Electrocardiogram
(Also known as an EKG or ECG)
During a basic EKG electrodes are placed at several locations on your body
to record your heart rate and rhythm and to measure the electrical picture
of your heart. Your physician uses this information to help diagnose
your condition. Approximate office time for this test is 30 to 60 minutes.
Want more information?
- Event Recorder
An event monitor test is used to record your heart rate and rhythm for
a period of up to 30 days. The event monitor is a small device attached
by electrodes and wires to the chest. The patient goes about his or her
normal daily activities. Patients press a button anytime they develop
symptoms to record heart activity. Once the information is recorded,
the patient sends the information by telephone to be reviewed by a physician.
Approximate office time for hook-up and teaching is 30 to 60 minutes. Want
more information?
- Holter
Monitor
A holter monitor test is used to record your heart rate and rhythm continuously
for a period of 24 hours or longer. The holter monitor is a small device
attached by electrodes and wires to the chest. The patient goes about
his or her normal daily activities while the device records the hearts
activity. The patient is instructed to keep a log of their activities
and symptoms. Approximate office time for hook-up and teaching is 30
to 60 minutes. Want more information?
- MUGA/RVG
This imaging procedure is used to examine the heart's chambers in motion.
A special camera makes recordings of your heart wall at work. These recordings
are synchronized with your heartbeat by using your EKG. A physician specially
trained in nuclear cardiology studies the films to evaluate your heart's
pumping function and ejection fraction (the volume of blood pumped out
with each heartbeat). Want more
information?
- Nuclear Stress
Test
This test involves an injection of a radiopharmaceutical agent, which
circulates in the blood stream. Pictures are taken to show the blood
flow to the heart. Pictures are taken at rest and after the patient
has completed a stress test. Approximate office time for this test
is 3 to 4 hours. Want more information?
- Cardiology Follow-Up
Once
we have determined a diagnosis and established options for treatment, our
physicians will schedule regular follow-up appointments. Certain heart
conditions require continual re-assessment and monitoring to determine
any significant changes.
- Exercise
Stress Echocardiography
A transducer, which is similar to a microphone, is placed on your chest.
The ultrasonic sound waves echo off heart structures. The transducer
picks up the reflected waves and sends them to a computer where they
are interpreted. After the resting echo images are obtained, you will
begin to exercise on a treadmill and a second set of images will be obtained.
A physician will compare the resting echo with the echo completed immediately
after exercise. Approximate office time for this test is 90 minutes. Want more information?
- Treadmill Stress
Test
While exercising on the treadmill an electrocardiogram records heart rate
and rhythm activity. Approximate office time for this test is 45 minutes. Want more information?
- Peripheral
Vascular Studies
These are noninvasive studies used to screen for
significant narrowing of the leg arteries. A physician will study the results
to determine further evaluation or treatment. Approximate office time for
this test is 60 minutes. Want more information?
- Angiography/Arteriography
(Carotid Angiography, Renal Angiography)
Angiography is a diagnostic
tool using X-rays to examine a patient’s blood vessels. In this procedure,
a cardiologist inserts a catheter into an artery through the arm or groin.
The catheter is then guided to the area of interest and dye is injected.
The dye defines anatomy of the blood vessels and pictures are
created, which are displayed on a monitor. These images help the physician
determine if there are any problems with circulation. Want more information?
- Cardiac
Catheterization/Coronary Angiography/Arteriography
Cardiac catheterization is done to check for plaque in the heart arteries
and other heart functions. During this procedure a very small hollow
tube, or catheter, is advanced from a blood vessel in the groin through
the aorta into the heart arteries or chambers. Once the catheter is in
place, several diagnostic techniques may be performed. Want
more information?
- Consultation and
Critical Care Assessment
- Electrical
Cardioversion
Electrical cardioversion is a procedure in which a brief electric shock
is given to the heart to reset an irregular heart rhythm back to a normal
rhythm. The patient is sedated for this procedure. Want more information?
- Percutaneous Transluminal
Coronary Angioplasty/Stent (PTCA)
PTCA is performed to open blocked coronary arteries caused by coronary
artery disease (CAD). A special catheter with a tiny balloon at its tip is
inserted into the coronary artery to be inflated. Once inflated, the balloon
compresses the atherosclerotic plaque obstructing the artery and makes a
larger opening inside the artery for improved blood flow. Want
more information?
- Peripheral
Angioplasty/Stent (PTA)
PTA is performed to open blocked or narrowed arteries in the legs or neck.
A special catheter with a tiny balloon at its tip is inserted into the
artery and inflated at the narrowed segment. Once inflated, the balloon
compresses the atherosclerotic plaque obstructing the artery and makes
a larger opening inside the artery for improved blood flow.
- Transesophageal
Echocardiogram (TEE)
A TEE is performed by inserting a probe with a transducer down your throat
into your stomach. This procedure is similar to a standard echocardiogram,
but a clearer image can be obtained because the sound waves do not have
to pass through skin, muscle or bone tissue. Patients are mildly sedated
for this procedure. Want more information?
- Ambulatory Blood
Pressure
Ambulatory blood pressure is a device to record blood
pressure readings during a 24 hour period. A blood pressure cuff is attached
to the patient and allows him or her to go about daily activities while a
device records blood pressures at defined intervals. Once the recordings
are completed, this information is reviewed and analyzed by a cardiologist.
This information is useful in determining the severity of high blood pressure.
- Pacemaker and ICD
Follow-Up
- TransTelephonic
Pacemaker Monitoring
- Permanent
Pacemaker Insertion
- Automatic Implantable
Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD) Insertion
- Biventricular
Pacing
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