Bartow Regional Medical Center added an important new feature to its array of patient services: a new Cardiac Cath Lab (catheterization laboratory). The Cardiac Catheterization is equipped with advanced technologically and sophisticated vascular imaging systems. With our system,
physicians are able to evaluate and diagnose patients for heart disease and other vascular problems. Board certified interventional cardiologists perform these tests supported by our
credentialed and experienced staff.
The Cardiac Catheterization/Vascular Imaging Department serves adult and geriatric patients requiring cardiac and vascular diagnostic testing. There is one procedure room and 5-pre/post procedure patient care beds. The department provides both invasive and non-invasive (echocardiograms, exercise stress tests and holter monitoring) diagnostic procedures and immediate post procedure care. The procedures performed include diagnostic cardiac catheterization, balloon pump insertion, temporary pacemakers, diagnostic, interventional peripheral procedures and support for transesophageal echocardiograms. In addition to our services, we will also provide assistance to the physicians for permanent pacemakers and internal cardiac defibrillators.
"The Cath Lab enables us to take pictures that show blockages or abnormalities in the coronary arteries," explains Lisa Wolfe, Cath Lab manager. "Prior to the opening of the lab, patients who required this testing had to travel to other facilities that are more than ten miles away."
The information provided by cardiac catheterization helps physicians confirm whether a patient has heart disease, evaluate the patient's heart muscle function, and determine whether the patient requires further treatment.
In addition to providing these crucial diagnostic services, the cath lab has just added interventional radiology services. "This means we now have the ability to open blocked arteries in non-coronary areas throughout the body," explains Wolfe. Procedures available include angioplasty, use of a balloon-tipped tube to enlarge a narrow artery, and stenting, insertion of a small tube which remains in the artery to keep it open.
"Our lab is used by board-certified cardiologists and staffed by an experienced group, several of whom have more than 15 years of experience in the field," says Wolfe. "We also provide bedside patient monitoring in our holding area, which is not available in most facilities.