In fact, we're known for some of the earliest open-heart surgeries and cardiac catheterizations in our region. Four decades later, cardiac care ranks at the top of our services, underscoring Mercy Hospital's commitment to offering the most technologically advanced diagnostics and treatments available. The Heart Center's physicians include cardiologists from Charlotte Cardiology Associates, plus cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons from Charlotte Cardiothoracic Surgical Associates. During a stress test, specialists measure the changes in the heart during exercise. This test uses the same principles as the stress test, but includes the injection of a radioactive isotope called thallium into the bloodstream during peak exercise.
Thallium enables a sophisticated scanner to produce pictures of the heart muscle.
These images are then used in comparison with those taken when the patient is resting. The Echocardiography Lab offers advanced cardiac diagnosis through the use of a diagnostic ultrasound test. This test allows our cardiologists to look at the heart without using x-rays or surgery. Echocardiography is used to track blood flow through the heart. Color-coded images produced by ultrasound provide extremely detailed information about the function and condition of the valves and walls of the heart, revealing possible abnormalities undetectable using other techniques.