The Cath lab or cardiac catheterization lab is important for diagnosing and treating heart diseases like coronary artery disease. A Cath lab is equipped with advanced imaging equipment which allows doctors to visualize the structures inside the heart and blood vessels leading to it. While earlier patients from Boisar, Palghar and surrounding areas had to travel to Mumbai or other major cities for Cath lab procedures, now Adhikari Lifeline Hospital provides state-of-the-art cardiac Cath lab services in Boisar.

This blog will discuss what a Cath lab is, the common procedures performed there and the treatment options available. As Boisar’s leading multi-speciality hospital, Adhikari Lifeline ensures patients get expert care from experienced cardiologists with the latest equipment and techniques right here in their town. Let’s understand how Cath Lab and how it helps manage various heart conditions.

What is a Cath Lab?

A Cath lab, also known as a cardiac catheterization laboratory or cardiac cath lab, is an examination room outfitted with specialized X-ray equipment. Inside the Cath lab in Boisar, highly skilled cardiologists use thin, flexible tubes called catheters to access the arteries and chambers of the heart. Specialized imaging like angiography and angioscopy is used to visualize the blood vessels and structures of the heart.

Common Heart Conditions Treated at Cath Lab

Some of the most common heart conditions evaluated and treated using cardiac catheterization in the Cath lab of Adhikari Lifeline Hospital include:

Coronary Artery Disease: A buildup of fatty plaques narrows the arteries supplying the heart over time. Angiography identifies these blockages which can then be opened up using minimally invasive angioplasty and stenting.

Heart Attack: A sudden severe blockage in one of the coronary arteries cuts off blood and oxygen supply, damaging heart muscle cells quickly. Urgent catheterization works to unblock the artery and limit damage.

Heart Failure: The heart muscle weakens and pumps blood less efficiently due to prior damage or other issues. Determining the root cause through cath lab tests helps address the problem and ease symptoms.

Chest Pain: Discomfort felt in the chest has many potential causes from anxiety to life-threatening conditions. Cardiac catheterization lab investigations provide answers to properly diagnose and manage different types of chest pain.

Common Cath Lab Procedures

Some common cardiac catheterization procedures performed in the cath lab include:

Coronary Angiography

Coronary angiography is one of the most common procedures performed in the cath lab. It helps the cardiologist visualize the coronary arteries to detect any blockages. In this procedure, a thin flexible catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin, arm or neck and guided to the opening of the coronary arteries. Then a special dye is injected through the catheter. This dye outlines the arteries and shows up on X-ray images. The cardiologist can then see which arteries are narrowed or blocked by looking at the fluoroscopy monitor in the lab. Any areas with poor blood flow getting insufficient dye will indicate a blockage. This roadmap helps decide further treatment strategy. If you are recommended to undergo angiography, choose the best cath-lab services in Boisar at Adhikari Lifeline Hospital.

Angioplasty

If the angiogram reveals any blockages, the cardiologist may perform angioplasty to open them up. In this procedure, a deflated balloon catheter is guided to the site of narrowing under X-ray guidance. The balloon is designed to the exact size of the healthy portion of the artery. It is then inflated at low pressure for 10-60 seconds to compress the plaque and widen the artery lumen. This restores adequate blood flow through the artery. Multiple inflations may be used if needed to completely open very blockages. Often a stent is placed for long-term results.

Stenting

A stent is a small expandable tube made of metal mesh. It acts as scaffolding to permanently prop the artery open. During the procedure, the stent is mounted in its compressed form on an angioplasty balloon catheter. It is then guided to the blockage site and inflated to embed itself into the artery walls. This is done under imaging to ensure appropriate placement. Once inflated, the stent engrafts into the artery, leaving an opening for blood to flow through. It prevents inward scar tissue formation and re-narrowing of the artery. Consult the best cardiologist in Boisar for you are advised to get stenting done for your heart health.

Valvuloplasty

In this procedure, the catheter is advanced into the heart chambers where it is manipulated across the narrowed valve. A small balloon attached to the catheter’s tip is then inflated to slightly crack open the valve and relieve narrowing. This decompresses blood flow without open heart surgery. It treats conditions like mitral stenosis. Precise technique and imaging help valvuloplasty be done in the cath lab instead of the operating room for select patients.

Pacing and Ablation

Pacing and ablation procedures help treat abnormal heart rhythms in the cardiac cath lab. The electrophysiologist inserts thin wired catheters through veins into the heart chambers and maps electrical signals to locate problem areas. For ablation, the catheter tips deliver targeted doses of radiofrequency energy or extreme cold to destroy tiny areas of defective heart tissue. This interrupts abnormal conduction pathways that cause irregular heartbeats. Pacemakers are sometimes implanted by threading wire leading to the heart muscle during the same procedure. Both ablation and pacemaker placement are minimally invasive alternatives to surgery, improving outcomes. The cath lab provides real-time imaging to precisely treat arrhythmias with these techniques.

Conclusion

In summary, the Cath lab plays a crucial role in diagnosing and treating many heart conditions. Having state-of-the-art facilities close to home cuts travel time and puts patients at ease.

Adhikari Lifeline Hospital’s Cath lab services in Boisar offer the latest cardiac catheterization technologies along with a highly skilled team of interventional cardiologists committed to delivering the best outcomes. Anyone experiencing symptoms related to heart disease can consult our doctors to evaluate if a Cath lab procedure is suitable for accurate diagnosis and effective management.

Get in touch with us to book an appointment with our cardiologist soon!