Advanced Cardiac Catheterization (Cath Lab) Services
The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, or Cath Lab, at Margaret Lawrence University Teaching Hospital is a highly specialized environment dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Using state-of-the-art imaging technology, our expert team performs minimally invasive procedures to visualize heart arteries and chambers, providing critical information and life-saving interventions.
What is Cardiac Catheterization?
During a cardiac catheterization, a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in your arm, groin, or neck and threaded to your heart. Through this catheter, doctors can perform diagnostic tests and treatments on your heart.
Key Procedures Performed in Our Cath Lab:
- Coronary Angiography: This is a diagnostic procedure that uses a special dye and X-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart. It is the gold standard for detecting blockages or narrowing of the coronary arteries (coronary artery disease).
- Angioplasty and Stenting: A therapeutic procedure to open clogged heart arteries. Our interventional cardiologists use a small balloon to widen the blocked artery and often place a small wire mesh coil, called a stent, to keep the artery open and improve blood flow.
- Right Heart Catheterization: Measures the pressures inside your heart and lungs, which is crucial for diagnosing and managing conditions like pulmonary hypertension and heart failure.
Our Commitment to Your Heart Health
Our Cath Lab is staffed by a dedicated team of interventional cardiologists, specialized nurses, and skilled technicians who work together to ensure the highest level of safety and care. We are equipped to handle both scheduled procedures and emergencies, such as heart attacks, where rapid intervention is critical. By providing these advanced capabilities, we are committed to delivering world-class cardiovascular care to our community.
