ENRICHBIOMED

  CATH LAB The cardiac catheterization laboratory, also known as the “ cardiac cath lab ,” is a special room where doctors can perform minimally invasive tests and procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. Surgery performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory almost always involves small flexible tubes called catheters, which can be used in place of surgery to access the heart and blood vessels. The catheter lab has special imaging equipment that is used to view the arteries and check the flow of blood in and out of the heart. This information helps the care team diagnose and treat blocked arteries and other problems. Cardiac catheterization is used to: Assess or confirm the presence of coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, or aortic disease  Assess myocardial function Determine if additional treatment is needed (for example, interventional surgery or coronary artery bypass graft or CABG, surgery) During cardiac catheterization, an elongated tube ...