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Cardiac
Catheterization
Mercy's cardiac catheterization program is state-of-the-art.
In the cardiac cath facility, located on the first floor,
diagnosis and treatment for heart and vascular conditions
is provided. Mercy's facility uses some of the best imaging
equipment available in the world. Current practice includes
the latest innovations in percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty, coronary stenting, and rotational atherectomy.
Advanced interventional radiology techniques are also available
in the cardiac cath facility. These include diagnosis and
intervention in arterial occlusive disease, embolism, cardiovascular
aorta repair, and more
.
Most cardiac cath lab procedures are done on an outpatient
basis. The area is conveniently located for admission and
discharge.
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Cardiovascular
Surgery
Adolescents, adults, and geriatric patients are all cared for in
Mercy's two cardiovascular operating rooms. Procedures include coronary
artery bypass grafting (also known as bypass surgery or CABG), valve
replacement, and the repair of certain defects. Lung, vascular,
and other procedures are also done; these include vein stripping,
permanent pacemaker insertion, carotid endarterectomies, repair
of abdominal aortic aneurysms, thoracotomies, and more.
Coronary CT angiography (CTA)
CTA is a new diagnostic tool for coronary artery disease. It is a noninvasive test that can detect blockages in the coronary arteries much sooner and with greater accuracy than previous exams. CTA uses a state-of-the-art 40-slice CT scanner and sophisticated software to create a 3D view of the heart and chest. The exam is done in the Radiology Department, with the patient receiving an injection of contrast medium beforehand.
In the resulting images, the heart and its blood vessels can be seen in three dimensions and the images can be rotated in any direction. Layers of the images can be peeled away to better view individual arteries. Tiny deposits of calcium and soft plaque can be seen, as can the walls of blood vessels, the sac surrounding the heart, the size of the heart chambers, and aneurysms and tears.
Coronary CT angiography is especially important because it can help assess the risk for heart disease early on—before an individual even has symptoms.
See a video/audio presentation by Dr. Cam Campbell | accompanying slides . Questions and answers about CTA.
Electrophysiology
Electrophysiology (EP for short) is a specialized area of cardiology
that deals with the heart's electrical system and abnormal rhythms,
or arrhythmias. With state-of-the-art facilities, the outstanding
EP staff offers:
- 3D cardiac
mapping, providing speed and increased safety for patients with
fast heart rhythms
- Catheter
ablation, treating and potentially curing abnormal heart rhythms
- Expanded
possibilities for permanent pacemaker implantation
- Implantation
of internal cardiac defibrillators, another option for dangerously
fast rhythms
- Tilt table
testing for diagnosing blood pressure/heart rate abnormalities
See a
video/audio
presentation by Dr. Rick Hopson | accompanying
slides . Questions
and answers about heart rhythms and arrhythmias.
Emergency
Care
For some people, heart care begins when they arrive in the emergency
room with an episode of chest pain. At Mercy, the Emergency Care
Unit is an integral part of heart and vascular care, and is staffed
24 hours a day by physicians and registered nurses. What's more,
the unit's "protocol" for caring for a chest pain patient
is faster than the national average. That means when minutes count,
heart patients are evaluated quickly and receive the care they need-whether
that means cardiac catheterization or another procedure.
Warning
signs of a heart attack
Guest
Lodging For Families
Overnight accommodations are available for families that want to
be near a loved one. These guest lodging rooms are located on the
third floor of Mercy North, just steps from any area of the hospital.
Each room provides two twin beds, private bath, telephone, and television.
A lounge just down the hall provides a larger seating area, vending
machines, and a kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave. The
nightly fee for a guest lodging room is $25.
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Inpatient
Care
Heart and vascular patients may be cared for in Intensive Care or
Telemetry, depending on their situation.
Mercy's Intensive Care Unit provides a low nurse-to-patient
ratio and patients are monitored constantly. The unit has
18 beds and is located on the main level of the hospital.
In this large and family-friendly unit, all patients have
an outside window. In addition to comfortable waiting areas,
a sunporch is available.
Mercy's Telemetry Unit provides cardiac monitoring for patients
with heart or respiratory conditions, as well as other diagnoses.
With wireless equipment, patients can be monitored in comfort whether
they are in their room or taking a walk in the hall. Heart patients
often "step down" from Intensive Care to Telemetry after
a heart attack or heart surgery. Telemetry has 34 beds and is located
on the fifth floor of the hospital.
Noninvasive
Services
These tests are typically done on an outpatient basis and include:
- Coronary CT angiography (CTA) - a new diagnostic tool to evaluate noninvasively for coronary artery disease. It can detect blockages much sooner and with greater accuracy. It looks at the walls of the artery, which is where plaque or blockage first develops.
- Echocardiograms,
recording heart function using ultrasound waves, color flow, and
doppler modalities
- Electrocardiograms,
recording the electrical activity of the heart
- Holter monitoring,
recording the electrical activity of the heart over an extended
period, typically 24-48 hours.
- Signal averaging,
analyzing the electrical cycle of the EKG complex in significant
rhythm problems
- Stress test
cardiogram, recording the electrical activity of the heart and
blood pressure before, during, and after exercise
- Stress echo,
performed with the stress test to provide the most accurate diagnosis
possible
- Transesophageal
(TEE), providing the physician with a clear view of the heart
from within the esophagus for more complex cardiac conditions
Outreach
Clinics
Mercy cardiologists provide outreach clinics in five locations in
southeast Iowa:
- Washington
County Hospital, Washington
- Jefferson
County Hospital, Fairfield
- Henry County
Health Center, Mount Pleasant
- Fort Madison
Community Hospital, Fort Madison
- Medical
Associates, Clinton (electrophysiology services)
For more information
about these outreach sites, please call Mercy
On Call at 358-2767 or
800-358-2767.
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Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation is offered in three phases to heart patients, with
individuals progressing through the phases as their health improves.
Inpatients receive phase 1, while outpatients receive phases 2 and
3. Cardiac rehabilitation includes exercise (monitored as needed)
and education. Education topics such as diet, risk factors, and
lifestyle changes are covered.
Support
and Education
A monthly cardiac support group provides more education and social
opportunities for heart patients and their families. It typically
meets on the third Monday of each month (except during the summer).
At heart healthy luncheon (available for $5) begins at 11:30 a.m.,
and a free presentation on heart health begins at 12 noon. Call
Mercy On Call at 358-2767
for information about the next meeting.
Basic Life Support is a two-session class that teaches CPR
to health care professionals as well as community members.
It is offered several times a year, with evening and Saturday
morning classes available. See
schedule.
BLS and Advanced Cardiac Life Support classes for health care
professionals are also available. See
schedule.
Heartsaver
Baby teaches parents and others how to respond to emergency situations
with infants and children. This one-session class is offered monthly.
See schedule.
Early Cardiac Care Program is a free, on-site group program to help
people recognize and respond to the early warning signs of a heart
attack. It is not a CPR class; it focuses on recognizing heart attack
signs and symptoms.
If you would
like a nurse to help you make an appointment with a Mercy
doctor, call Mercy
On Call at 358-2767 or 800-358-2767, or visit physician
directory.
Vascular
screenings
Mercy Iowa City offers low-cost vascular screenings throughout
the community. The screening package costs $99 and provides
Carotid arteries scan, Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) scan,
Ankle brachial index (ABI), and Blood pressure checks.
The screenings
are recommended for people 55 years or older with cardiovascular
risk factors such as a history of high blood pressure, diabetes
mellitus, smoking, high cholesterol, or known cardiovascular
disease. more
For more information
American Heart
Association
National Heart,
Lung and Blood Institute
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