Mercy's Katz Cardiovascular Center opened in the spring of 2002. In recognition of a $1 million gift from the Henry and Sara Katz Charitable Foundation, Mercy named its new heart, lung and vascular center for the late Cedar Rapids couple.
Katz Cardiovascular Center was designed around a focus on the patient's needs. Our goal is to offer patient- and family-centered care -- with the Mercy Touch -- in a state-of-the-art facility. Our services include the Cardiovascular Labs (Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Peripheral Vascular Lab) and the Electrophysiology Lab, which offer a wide range of procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic needs.
Mercy's Cardiovascular staff is a highly-skilled, experienced team of health care professionals, all certified and well trained in caring for patients with cardiovascular disease. The Mercy team is also adept in handling emergencies, including rapid response treatment for heart attack patients.
In addition, Mercy offers the latest technology with a wide variety of computer-enhanced capabilities in all three labs.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab
Mercy's Cardiac Catheterization Lab handles invasive procedures such as diagnostic cardiac catheterization, coronary angioplasty and stent and drug-eluting stent placement, along with other sophisticated equipment to assist in these treatments.
To take a virtual tour, click on one of the red buttons.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab
To take a virtual tour of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, make sure you have the QuickTime plug-in installed, then click the 
button.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab Control Room
To take a virtual tour of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab Control Room, make sure you have the QuickTime plug-in installed, then click the button.
Peripheral Vascular Lab
Mercy's Peripheral Vascular Lab treats problems with blood vessels other than the heart. This lab addresses circulatory problems, offering a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for patients with blockages in their legs, as well as renal arteries and carotid arteries. These procedures include:
- Carotid stenting
- Thrombolysis
- Vascular arteriography
- Peripheral angioplasty and stenting
- Biopsy and vascular access
Mercy's Peripheral Vascular Lab also offers non-surgical treatment options for diagnosis and treatment of non-vascular conditions affecting organs such as the lungs, kidneys and liver. These procedures include:
- Needle biopsies
- Drainage
- Vertebroplasty
Electrophysiology Lab (EP Lab)
Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia) and fainting (syncope) are two symptoms of patients who are referred to Mercy’s EP Lab. Here, patients undergo procedures to correct heart rhythm disorders.
Procedures include:
- Catheter ablations
- Electrophysiology studies that closely examine the heart's electrical system through catheters placed in the heart
- Implants of pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD)
The duration of procedures varies from one to six hours.
Mercy's EP Lab offers:
- State-of-the-art equipment that allows the physician to see the heart in two views with the touch of a button
- A 3-D mapping system that makes it easier to treat difficult heart rhythms
- A computerized system that enables the physician and staff to see up to 32 channels of heart rhythm recordings
Cardiologists with advanced training in the heart's electrical system insert special catheters to pinpoint irregularities in the heart rhythm. When an irregular focus is identified, the physician makes recommendations for treatment. Radio frequency cardiac ablation, which uses radio waves to destroy abnormal tissue, is one option. Another is implantation of a pacemaker to speed up a sluggish heart, or an ICD to slow down a "runaway" rhythm. If none of these treatments is appropriate, the physician can recommend the proper medication for the patient's condition.
Tilt table testing is also done in Mercy's EP Lab. This is a noninvasive way to diagnose syncope and determine treatment options.
Mercy's EP Lab is staffed by registered nurses who have advanced training and certification in the treatment of heart rhythm conditions, and years of experience in caring for cardiac patients.
Mercy's EP Lab
To take a virtual tour of Mercy's EP Lab, make sure you have the QuickTime plug-in installed, then click the button.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab
For more information on heart rhythm disorders, visit the Heart Rhythm Society online.
