EHS Opens New Cath Lab in Deerbrook
We are thrilled to announce that we have opened our second cardiac catheterization lab (cath lab) in our Deerbrook facility located in 8901 FM 1960 Bypass Rd. W. Suite 105. Humble. Our first cath lab was opened in March 2018 at Texas Emergency Hospital located in Cleveland, Texas.
With this new opening, we are furthering one of our goals and main priorities which is to offer high-quality cardiovascular services to our community.
Cath labs are examination rooms in a hospital or clinic that have special imaging equipment used to visualize the arteries and veins of the heart and extremities to treat any stenosis or abnormality found. Tiny wires and catheters are used to visualize irregularities within the human body.
To better understand how cath labs work, we can use a simple comparison. A cath bab is like fixing things in a house. You often require a plumber or an electrician to fix problems, same with cath labs. The Cardiologists using balloons and stents are the plumbers and the electrophysiologists are the electricians.
Cath lab diagnostic testing is especially useful for patients with family history of heart problems, patients with chest pains, patients with a shortness of breath, patients that have failed stress testing, patients with abnormal heart rhythms. Following results, some of those patients would then also need a immediate therapy to reverse any identified problem such as balloons and stents to electrophysiology ablations.
Cath labs employs specialized technology, such as the use of permanently mounted Fluoroscopy C Arm and Surgical techniques. Also, very specialized equipment is used for electrophysiology procedures to correct irregular heart rhythms, EKG’s and lab testing.
Cath Labs Procedures
The advanced technology and equipment in the new cath lab allow us to perform the following procedures:
- Diagnostic and interventional heart catheterizations.
- Balloon and stenting of the heart and the peripheral vessels when reduced blood flow effects the muscles of the body.
- Implantable pacemakers and defibrillators
- Supraventricular tachycardia mapping and ablations
- Atrial fibrillation ablations
- Cardiac echo and intracardiac echo
- Intravascular ultrasound, fractional flow reserve tests.
Generally, three to five cath lab staff members participate in a cardiac cath procedure and it comprises a combination of registered nurses, cardiovascular technicians and radiology technicians.
It often takes staff members 2-4 years to become proficient in the procedures that are performed in the cath lab. There is a high degree of skill and knowledge required to work in these procedures.