The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, commonly called Cath Lab, is a specialized unit where X Ray imaging technology is used to visualize the heart and its vessels (coronary arteries) as well as other vessels or organs, such as the brain, kidneys, peripheral arteries and veins through the use of different catheters inserted through a small access into an artery or vein in the arm, groin or neck. The procedure involves injection of radiologic contrast directly through the catheters and takes only several minutes to perform
Procedures are generally categorized as diagnostic or therapeutic. Diagnostic procedures include coronary angiography, hemodynamic studies, electrophysiologic studies, angiographies on the brain, kidneys and other organs. Therapeutic or treatment procedures include percutaneous coronary interventions commonly known as angioplasty, interventions on valvular diseases, closure of congenital shunt defects by transcatheter techniques, and treatment procedures for peripheral arteries can be detected in a catheterization laboratory. These typically include:
- Coronary artery disease
- Congenital heart disease
- Valve defects
- Peripheral artery disease
- Sick sinus rhythm
Most Frequent Procedures Performed in the Cath Lab
Coronary Angiography
This is a technique where the arteries of the heart are visualized to detect blockages of the coronary arteries and determine the best treatment options for such
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
This involves widening of the obstructed artery by using various devices such as balloon catheters, atherectomy devices or other tools and implanting metal mesh-like tubes called stents to prevent collapse and closure of the widened artery. Newer stents coated with drugs are employed to prevent early re-narrowing.
