Overview

We Care India partner hospital’s cardiac catheterization laboratory (also known as the cath lab) is a specialized service that plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease by allowing cardiologists to assess blockages in coronary arteries and determine what is the most appropriate treatment option

A diagnostic procedure is performed in the cath lab to determine the extent of disease present in the vascular system. Left heart catheterization (arterial) is performed to determine blockages in the coronary vascular system. Right heart catheterization (venous) is performed to determine how well the heart valves are functioning and how effective the heart is pumping blood to the lungs.

Often used along with angiography and other procedures, cardiac catheterization has become a prime tool for visualizing the heart and blood vessels and diagnosing and treating heart disease.

Stents –

A stent is a small stainless steel tube that is permanently placed inside an artery to keep it open. Stents can be used to open arteries in the heart (coronary), leg, kidney, neck (carotid), or other parts of the body. Stents are mounted over a balloon catheter and then pushed through the blockage. The balloon is then inflated and the stent expanded pressing against the artery wall. The balloon is then deflated and removed leaving the vessel held open by the stent. Some stents are self-expanding and are deployed without the aid of a balloon catheter. Coronary stents are the most commonly performed intervention in the cath lab.

Atherectomy –

In this procedure, the plaque is actually removed from the inside of the blocked artery. There are several different types of atherectomy procedures. One is commonly referred to as an extraction atherectormy. In this procedure, a transluminal extraction catheter (TEC) is placed at the beginning of the blockage. The catheter tip then rotates, cuts, and vacuums the blockage out of the body. This procedure may be repeated several times before the blockage is sufficiently reduced.

PTCA –

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or PTA (percutaneous peripheral angioplasty), more frequently refered to as a "balloon" procedure, is one of the most commonly used interventional cardiac procedures. This procedure has been used to open coronary arteries for over 20 years. Cardiologists have seen many changes in techniques for accomplishing the procedure over the past years, but the basic procedure has not changed. A catheter with a balloon on the end is inflated at a blockage inside an artery to "push" the plaque against the artery walls and allow the blood to flow normally.

Rotational Ablation -

A small drill (burr) turns quickly to cut through plaque that is very hard. The hard plaque is cut into very fine particles that are eliminated by the body. This procedure is commonly referred to as a rotoblator atherectomy.

Alcohol Septal Ablation -

This percutaneous procedure is used to treat patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. During this procedure a small amount of absolute alcohol is infused into the artery feeding diseased muscle to produce a small heart attack, killing the area of muscle responsible for obstructing blood flow from the left ventricle.

Pacemaker -

Pacemaker procedures are done for many different reasons. The basic indication for pacemaker implantation is that there is some defect in the electrical conduction system in the heart. The patient may be experiencing a slow heart rate, an erratic heart rate, an irregular beating of the atrium or ventricle, or several other abnormalities. Many different types of pacemaker are used to treat the various conditions.

The procedure is usually performed from the left or right subclavian vein approach. Wire(s) are placed in the right atrium and/or right ventricle via the subclavian vein and then an analyzer is connected to the leads to confirm proper positioning and conduction. After lead placement, a small generator is connected to the wire(s) and permanently placed just under the skin in the subclavian area. Special post-operative precautions must be taken to ensure that lead placement is maintained. St. Luke's and Texas Heart Institute physicians perform more than 600 pacemaker implants per year.Read More...

Pulmonary Vein Ablation -

This is a treatment for atrial fibrillation in which a physician inserts catheters into the blood vessels of the atrium. A special machine delivers energy through the catheters producing a scar that blocks any impulses from firing from the pulmonary vein. This disconnects the pathway of the abnormal rhythm and prevents atrial fibrillation. St. Luke's and Texas Heart Institute physicians perform approximately 200 pulmonary vein ablations per year. Read More...

Radio Frequency Ablation -

This procedure is most commonly used to treat supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. A physician guides a catheter to the exact site in the heart where the abnormal heart rhythm occurs. A painless radiofrequency energy is transmitted to destroy selected heart muscle cells and eliminate the abnormal heartbeat. Read More....

Peripheral Vascular Procedure-

This type of procedure primarily uses stents and bypass methods to open blocked vessels. In a peripheral stent procedure, a small stainless steel tube is permanently placed inside an artery to keep it open. A peripheral bypass procedure creates a way for blood to flow around one or more of the blocked vessels. After making an incision in the arm or leg or below the stomach, the surgeon will take an artificial vessel or one of the patient's own veins (called a graft) and connect it to the blocked vessel at points above and below the blockage. This allows blood to flow around, or "bypass" the blockage. Read More....

Cardioversion -

Synchronized cardioversion is an electrical shock applied to the chest to momentarily stop the heart so that a normal heart beat (sinus rhythm) may take over. Conditions that warrant cardioversion include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), and stable ventricular tachycardia. Sedation is given just prior to delivering the external electrical shock to produce an amnesic effect post procedure. Cardioversions are done in a controlled environment by trained nursing staff and a physician. Cardioversions are frequently done in the CCU, ER, or outpatient areas where facilities are appropriately equipped to monitor the patient.

Venacava Filter Placement (IVC filter) -

Venacava filters are placed in the inferior vena cava for only one reason; to prevent thrombus from traveling through the venous system back to the heart and lungs. IVC filters are delivered into the inferior vena cava via the femoral or jugular vein. The procedure may be done in the x-ray department or the cath lab under fluoroscopy. Once the filter is deployed in the inferior vena cava it can never be removed. Patients must continue on anticoagulation therapy post procedure.

Valvuloplasty -

This procedure is performed with a balloon catheter to open a stenotic (narrowed) valve. The valve is stretched open by the balloon for only a few seconds at a time and then pressure readings and an angiogram (x-ray image) are taken to determine the status of the value function. Not all patients with valvular stenosis are candidates for valvuloplasty. Most patients with valvular stenosis have surgery for valve replacement ot repair. Valvuloplasty is most commonly used on the aortic or mitral values but can be done on any valve in the heart.


Services provided in the lab include : -

Atherectomies
Cardiac Catheterization
Catheter Ablation
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Coronary Ultrasound
Coronary Stenting
Electrophysiology (EP) Studies
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Intravascular Ultrasound
Peripheral Angioplasty
Permanent Pacemakers
PTCA
Rotoblator
Three-Dimensional Mapping
Valvuloplasty

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