Cardiac Catheterization
With SOMC’s state-of-the-art cardiac cath lab, we are taking heart care to a new level. Equipped with some of the latest that medical technology has to offer, the entire service is an example of SOMC’s commitment to providing to the people of our area the same specialized care traditionally found in larger cities. Cardiac catheterization is a procedure that can be used for both diagnosis and treatment.
Who is eligible for cardiac catheterization?
A patient is referred to our cath lab after consultation with his or her physician and a cardiologist to address signs and symptoms that may warrant such a diagnostic procedure.
Does a patient have to be admitted to the hospital?
Normally cardiac catheterization is a same-day procedure. It is essentially pain free and the patient is often not even sedated. The doctor may use an anesthetic to numb the area where the catheter is inserted. Depending on the case, the procedure may take from a few minutes to an hour or two.
Are any other procedures conducted in the cath lab?
Currently we are also conducting angiography procedures here. Angiography is another diagnostic procedure in which dye in injected intravenously to view blood vessels and tissue with x-rays. The new Integris V5000 equipment used for cardiac catheterization is also used for this purpose. This is the best equipment available anywhere for this purpose.
Cheryl Lytten, RN, BSN
Nurse Manager
Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
LyttenC@somc.org