Patient's Guide to Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac rehabilitation services at the Mat Gaberty Heart Center are designed to help people with heart disease recover more quickly. Rehab includes exercise, education and counseling on living healthier. In conjunction with medical or surgical treatments, cardiac rehab can help you feel better and control your heart disease.

Cardiac rehab is an effective way to help:

• Feel better faster
• Get stronger
• Reduce stress
• Reduce the risk of future heart problems
• Live longer

Cardiac rehab is divided into several phases:

• Phase 1: Acute inpatient cardiac rehabilitation
• Phase 2: Outpatient cardiac program
• Phase 3: Outpatient cardiac advanced program

If necessary, the following phases can be added to your treatment:

• In and outpatient rehabilitation
• Smoking cessation counseling
• Diabetes counseling
• Resistance training for upper body rehabilitation

We will request that you or your physician provide:

• A copy of a stress test performed within the past three months and performed after any procedure you have had (such as angioplasty, coronary bypass surgery or a stent.) The test must include a 12 lead EKG at rest, during the test and during the period after the test.
• A copy of lab work done within the past three months.
• A written referral from your doctor

To enroll or get assistance in obtaining the above information, talk to your doctor and call (586) 493-3354.

Patient's Guide to Invasive and Interventional Cardiology

Cardiac catheterization and other invasive diagnostic procedures are generally recommended when doctors need to confirm the presence of a clinically suspected condition.

The following procedures, which are performed at the Mat Gaberty Heart Center, determine if a patient has coronary - peripheral artery disease:

• Left Heart Cath: Used to visualize the heart's arteries and look for blockages
• Right Heart Cath: Measures the pressures in the four chambers of the heart
• Intravascular Ultrasound: Used to look inside the arteries and determine the blood flow within the vessel
• Cardiac and Peripheral Angioplasty and Stenting: Placing a balloon into the blocked artery, inflating it and holding it open with a wire coil, which is called a stent
• Coronary Atherectomy (Rotoblator): A roto-rooter approach to clogged arteries
• Right Ventricular Biopsy: The removal of a tissue sample from the wall of the heart for analysis
• Transesophageal Echocardiography: An ultrasound scope is passed down the esophagus to visualize the chambers of the heart.
• Electrophysiology and Arrythmia Services: These are used to determine the cause of irregular heart rates.
• Cardioversion: Returns irregular heart rates to regular beats

Advance Practice Nurses at the Mat Gaberty Heart Center provide point-of-service pre-admission testing and education for interventional patients.

Your doctor's office will schedule your procedure at the heart center. Patients and family members should arrive at the hospital an hour prior to the pre-admission testing and staff will confirm the time of the procedure. Family members should stay at the hospital until the procedure is completed and they have spoken with the doctor. The patient may or may not go home the same day depending on the outcome of the procedure and the doctor's recommendations.

Patient's Guide to Echocardiography

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of your heart. It is used to study the heart and surrounding structures. It is a non-invasive procedure which is helpful in determining heart size and ventricular function. Heart clots and damage after a heart attack can often be detected through this procedure. It is often used in conjunction with doppler ultrasounds.

The process: You will be asked to lie on an exam table while a technologist moves a transducer over your chest and heart region. A small amount of gel is applied during this procedure. You will be asked to lay still, change positions or hold your breath. Most exams take approximately 30 to 45 minutes.