Cardiac Catheterization
Many heart-related tests and procedures are performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratories, commonly referred to as the “Cath Lab.”
During cardiac catheterization, a thin, plastic catheter is inserted into an artery or vein, most commonly in the patient’s arm or groin. From there, it is threaded through the artery or vein to the heart or the coronary arteries.
Cardiac catheterization can measure blood pressure within the heart, determine the amount of oxygen in the blood and test the heart’s ability to pump blood. When dye is injected into the coronary arteries through the catheter, the procedure is called coronary angiography.
A “contrast dye” injected into the bloodstream enables an X-ray machine to acquire images of the heart. Our Cath Lab’s video screens give cardiologists the ability to see the heart during cardiac catheterization. Naturally, it is very important to achieve the best view possible.
To provide our patients with the best care, both John C. Lincoln hospitals recently remodeled their cath labs with the latest technology available. As a part of the renovation, new high-definition monitors that provide images that are as clear as possible. John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital also added a second Cath Lab to meet the area’s growing demand for services.