Cath Lab

Cardiac Catheterization Lab

Cardiac catheterization laboratories (often called “cath labs”) serve two purposes: to provide diagnostic information to doctors; and, in some cases, to allow doctors to perform procedures to fix heart problems -- also referred to as “interventional cardiology”.

The CMHVI Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is one of just 20 percent of U.S. cath labs that serves both diagnostic and interventional purposes. Qualified cardiologists at CMHVI can both diagnose and treat patients in the cath lab.  

The CMVHI Cath Lab team consists of board-certified cardiologists who have special training in performing catheterizations. They are assisted by specially trained nurses and radiologic technologists

Catheterization procedures

During a cardiac catheterization procedure, a cardiologist guides a thin plastic tube called a catheter through an artery in the arm or leg into the heart and the coronary arteries in the heart. Dye is injected through the catheter into the coronary arteries and images of the flow of the dye are captured by x-ray.

This test can measure blood pressure and blood oxygen levels, and detects blockages that may have to be repaired. Catherization procedures include:

• Diagnostic right and left heart catheterization to assess and diagnose coronary artery disease
  
  
• Percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
  
  
• Coronary artery stent placement
  
  
• Direct angioplasty for treatment of acute myocardial infarction
  
  
• Intravascular ultrasound
  
  
• Intra-aortic balloon pump
  
  
• Pacemaker placement
  
  
• Procedural education
  
  
• Diagnostic peripheral arterial catheterization
  
  
• Percutaneous peripheral arterial intervention (stent placement, angioplasty, limb salvage)
  
  
• Diagnostic and intervention peripheral arterial procedures
  
  
• Balloon angioplasty, stent placement and other devices are designed to treat coronary artery disease.

Technology and equipment

GE Innova Flat-Panel Digital System: This multi-view camera rotates around the patient, allowing for different x-ray views without moving the patient. This system uses 40 percent less radiation, 40 percent to 50 percent less contrast dye, and greatly enhanced image quality.

Marquette MAC LAB hemodynamic System: This system monitors multiple readings including blood pressure, EKG, pulse and oximetry. It serves as the sole documentation source for Cath Lab procedures.

Emergency angioplasty

CMHVI and the Central Maine Medical Center Chest Pain Center have trained some 15 Maine emergency medical services (EMS) organizations to identify patients who are probably having a heart attack.  

When a likely heart attack patient is identified, these EMS providers are authorized to activate a heart attack response team at CMHVI-CMMC. Patients can be whisked to the cardiac cath lab for an emergency angioplasty. This process decreases the door-to-procedure time, better assuring a more complete recovery for the patient. The quicker the heart attack artery is unclogged, the more heart muscle is saved.