Cardiac Catheterization Lab

Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization (sometimes called coronary angiography) is a test to evaluate the heart and its blood vessels. Martin Memorial Cardiac Catheterization Lab performs this test, considered the "gold standard" in evaluating heart function, on both inpatients and outpatients. To perform this procedure, cardiologists use a catheter, inserted through the upper leg or arm and advanced to the heart, to assess the adequacy of heart contractions, pressures in different areas of the heart, output of the heart, or the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in different areas of the heart. The patient is sedated during the procedure. Once the catheter is in place, a dye is injected into the catheter and X-rays movies are taken and recorded on film. These films can help cardiologists see if any blockages are present in the coronary arteries.

Angioplasty
This catheterization procedure can also be used to treat blocked coronary arteries by blowing up a small balloon at the site of blockage to create a larger opening. This is called angioplasty.

The Cardiovascular Operating Room

The cardiovascular operating room has RN and Scrub tech positions dedicated to the open-heart surgical service. They are specifically trained in surgical services with additional training specific to open-heart surgery. The staff work in collaboration with a cardiovascular surgeon, cardiovascular physician assistant and cardiovascular anesthesiologist.

The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) is the post surgery recovery area for heart surgery patients. The nursing staff for this patient unit consists of experienced critical care registered nurses with additional training specific to care of the open-heart surgery patient. The nursing staff works in collaboration with both the cardiovascular anesthesiologist and cardiovascular surgeon. The ratio of nurse to patient for the immediate recovery period is 1:1. After the first 24 hours or sooner if the patient’s condition is deemed stable, the patient is moved to the Cardiovascular Step Down unit.

The Cardiovascular Step Down Unit

The Cardiovascular Step Down unit serves as the recovery unit until patient discharge, for those patients who no longer require ICU care post angioplasty or open-heart/vascular surgery. The RN staff caring for patients on this unit have had the experience of a critical care course to include EKG/Rhythm analysis, pharmacology of drugs specific to patient needs, special equipment training and disease pathology, assessment, intervention and evaluation of care.

Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Diagnostic Testing

Our leading edge diagnostic capabilities include a complete spectrum of noninvasive cardiovascular diagnostic testing. Along with our highly skilled technologists and nurses, having the latest technology to detect heart disease allows our cardiologists to discover the potential problems in their earliest stages. It also helps them to expertly manage patients with suspected or known heart and/or vascular conditions with testing that does not cause discomfort and are not complicated.

About Cardiac Rehabilitation

Martin Memorial offers a medically supervised, comprehensive cardiac care rehabilitation program that begins with a cardiac diagnosis and continues throughout the outpatients recovery period.

The program is designed for an individual who has had a heart attack, has undergone coronary artery bypass surgery or has stable angina. It will help you regain your activities of daily living.

Cardiovascular Testing

There are a number of tests that can be done to evaluate the heart's function. Tests performed at Martin Memorial include electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiograms (ultrasound of the heart), stress testing, duplex carotid ultrasound, holter monitor and transient arrhythmia monitor, telephone pacemaker checks, venous duplex color flow imaging, pediatric cardiovascular testing and more. These tests can be used to diagnose heart problems such as abnormal rhythms, analyze blood flow, check for plaque/calcium deposits or clots in blood vessels, assess a patient to determine a safe exercise program, and more. Martin Memorial also has the capability to digitally transmit ultrasound studies and EKGs from one area of the health system to another, which speeds treatment time.

These tests are performed through Martin Memorial's Diagnostic Imaging department. Learn more about Diagnostic Imaging services. Below is a list of cardiovascular testing services available at Martin Memorial.

• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Holter monitoring
• Transient arrhythmia monitor
• Telephonic pacemaker checks
• Echocardiogram
• Echocardiogram with Doppler/color flow
• Transesophageal echocardiogram
• Stress EKG test
• Cardiolite stress test
• Pharmacological stress test
• Stress echocardiogram
• Dobutamine stress echocardiogram
• Duplex carotid ultrasound
• Arterial evaluation, at rest and exercising
• Arterial imaging, upper and lower extremities
• Venous B-scan
• A-V access graft imaging

• Diagnostic Imaging Services