A Cath lab, usually recognized as a “cardiac catheterization laboratory,” is a dedicated examination part within any clinic, hospital, or diagnosis center. It allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to perform supposedly invasive examinations like angiograms, ablation, the embedding of pacemakers, etc., along with cutting-edge cardiac procedures. A Cath lab permits medical professionals to recognize and cure cardiovascular illnesses. Recollect, it’s not an operation theatre but a dedicated room permitting nurses, cardiologists, and radiology technicians to notice cardiac issues and correct them. In a nutshell, it’s an investigative tool for noticing blockages when your doctor suspects patients suffering from coronary artery conditions. 

This unit of the hospital, called the Cath Lab, is usually fortified with hi-tech and advanced imaging equipment permitting doctors to have a clear view of their patient’s arteries, body’s blood flow, and heart working. Therefore, providing the care team with pertinent information helps identify and treat blockages, artery issues, and other medical glitches without patients undergoing surgery.

Cardiac catheterization is a medical process to diagnosticate and cure various kinds of cardiovascular illnesses, such as checking blocked sections of the artery, blood pressure in heart chambers, pumping capabilities, etc. It’s a procedure where a catheter, a thin, hollow, and supple tube, is introduced inside a large blood vein or groin. It’s slowly eased into the heart through the blood vessels – acting as a treatment for various cardiac problems of coronary stenting, coronary angioplasty, etc. Certainly, it’s less throbbing, low risk, and earlier recovery time. 

Catheterization Laboratory Procedures 

But, doctors and skilled cardiologists implant the tube into the heart through a blood vessel allowing the cardiovascular team to insert stents, take pictures, and complete angioplasty. The finest part, one doesn’t require general anesthesia or an overnight stay at the hospital. 

The most shared non-surgical procedures completed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory comprise the following:

Balloon Angioplasty

The cardiologist uses a special catheter with a balloon committed at one end, permitting it to be magnified inside the patient’s body. It is negotiated over a guidewire to the artery congested with plaque-stopping blood flow. The balloon is exaggerated and deflated plentiful times to compress the plaque while widening the artery to surge blood flow to the heart. 

Stent Implantation

The stent is a minute, metal mesh tube that is eased through the balloon-tipped catheter to the jammed vein and eternally entrenched in the artery. It acts as a framework to open the artery and stop it from collapsing or re-blocking. 

Rotoblation Atherectomy

During rotoblation, a singular catheter having diamond coated, the acorn-shaped tip is used to open the jammed artery. The tip turns at high speed and grinds away the greasy plaque, which is prudently and securely filtered out through the bloodstream and liver.

Cutting Balloon

It has a singular balloon tip with small blades and is used with the balloon catheter. When the balloon is exaggerated inside the patient, the blades get triggered, permitting them to destroy the plaque. 

Pacemaker

A pacemaker is a minor device, approximately the scope of a matchbox, powered by batteries helping the heart to beat a steady rhythm. It’s needed by patients who agonize from uneven or slow heartbeats. 

Thrombectomy

During thrombectomy, a catheter filled with medicine is implanted into the patient’s blood vessel to eliminate the obstruction and restore blood flow to the heart. 

Cath Lab Apparatuses

The cath lab needs dedicated equipment and apparatus and standard equipment. The cath lab’s x-ray structures are the rudimentary equipment in a cardiac unit. The cath lab also needs the management of controlled medicine and IV solutions. The kind of medical process in the cath lab regulates the machinery wanted in the examination room. 

Certainly, the cath labs are continuing to modernize and enlarge using AI, robotics, 3-D imaging, and other high-tech technologies to decrease the risk of radiation.

X-Ray Machines

The cath lab is mostly done using x-ray machines which help doctors notice blocked arteries. Nowadays, angiography and imaging systems offer cutting-edge real-time imaging without increasing energy risk. The most shared kind of X-Ray Machine used in a cath lab is fluoroscopy (XRF). 

Procedure Carts

They are tough mobile medical carts with customizable conformations and features, permitting doctors, care teams, and other medical staff to complete precise measures during procedures. 

Computer Stations

Workstations are calculated to process and hoard digital pictures, data, or other necessary information that might be required during cardiac catheterization. 

Screens

Usually, the cath labs are armed with two monitors, one exhibiting live imaging, and the other is a reference footage monitor.

Injector Pumps

Injector pumps include an injector head diverse from syringes and are envisioned to inject the smaller vessels with lower stream and pressure. 

Procedure Table

These tables are used in a cath lab for numerous purposes, such as permitting the patient to sit, check, or lay the patient during procedures. 

Kinds of Cath Labs

Here’s all you require to know about the different kinds of cath labs:

Single Plane Vs. Biplane Cath Labs

The biplane cath systems are helpful for neurology and cardiac, executing 3-D imagery systems that rapidly capture image data and use two axes sensors. They come with normal 3-D software and use a double C-arm, giving more space but taking additional time to get the site ready. Certainly, the biplane cath lab has a bigger footprint, and the forte systems, components, and apparatus costs are higher. Besides, it offers enhanced flexibility of viewing two monitors simultaneously from two planes. It also offers more conception during the procedure. 

Whereas single-plane cath labs execute one ax to show 3-D captured pictures. Therefore, they take lengthier than biplane cath labs. Though, you have the choice to add the 3-D software that could reason stays. These structures typically cost 20 to 30% less than the biplane cath lab but can transport similar performances. 

Floor Mounted Vs. Ceiling Mounted Cath Lab

Selecting a floor-mounted or ceiling mounted depends on the kind of workflow room space, procedure, and other requirements. 

The ceiling-mounted schemes require robust construction and are perched from the ceiling; therefore, they must have higher ceilings. As a consequence, they offer more floor space for the framework. Clinics, hospitals, and other practices absorbed in generating a ceiling-mounted cath lab in an existing facility must assign a higher budget, costing around 10,000 dollars. Furthermore, the ceiling-mounted cath lab offers sophisticated imaging while combating necessities for treating complex cardiac cases and healing procedures. 

On the contrary, floor mounted cath lab needs a finished floor to connect the appropriate equipment, monitors, and other systems. Also, one desires to consider the movement of the framework and safeguard that the floor is at the same level as the systems.