Cath Lab (Angiography)

Hours: Weekdays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 503-435-6443

Today's advanced technology in catheter labs enables patients to go beyond receiving an accurate diagnosis.

Patients can often receive care and treatments with less pain and a faster recovery through such procedures as: angioplasty for opening blocked vessels; placement of stents in narrowed or weak vessels; fibrinolysis for disintegrating blood clots; embolization to shrink fibroid tumors; removal of foreign bodies; and biopsies.

To enable our patients to take full advantage of this advanced technology, we recently purchased new Catheter Lab equipment, the GE Innova® 3100. Innova's clear and detailed images help physicians make accurate diagnoses as well as successfully maneuver the smallest medical devices such as catheters, guide wires and pacemakers.

Cath Lab FAQs

 

What procedures are usually performed in the Cath Lab?

• Angiography (i.e. Cardiac Cath):an x-ray exam of the arteries via a small catheter that is threaded in an artery allowing a contrast agent (x-ray dye) to highlight (make visible) anatomy on the x-ray. This examination allows identification of abnormalities in the arteries, such as narrowing, blockages, injury, and associated tumors.

• Angioplasty: In this procedure, an interventional radiologist inserts a miniature balloon attached to a thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel through a tiny nick in the skin. The catheter is threaded under X-ray guidance to the site of the blocked artery. The balloon is inflated to open the artery.Stent Placement: A stent is a tiny metallic tubular mesh, which, when placed in the artery, acts like scaffolding to keep the lumen open.

• Thrombolytic Therapy:This treatment is used if the blockage in the artery is caused by a blood clot. Thrombolytic drugs (clot-busting drugs) are delivered to the site of blockages through a catheter directly into the clot to dissolve it and restore blood flow. These drugs are frequently combined with another treatment, such as angioplasty.

• Percutaneous Nephrostomy: A non-operative procedure that allows percutaneous drainage of an obstructed kidney through a small tube.

• Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filters: Devices used in patients with leg clots who are at high risk of dislodgement to the heart. The filter is inserted through a tiny incision in the groin or neck and positioned within the major abdominal vein to prevent blood clots from reaching the heart.

• Vascular Embolization: A technique to treat bleeding from injured blood vessels. It is also used to non-surgically stop uncontrolled bleeding from the stomach or bowels.

I've heard the term interventional radiology used. What does that mean?

Interventional radiology is a relatively new area of radiology that combines the use of imaging technology with therapeutic devices to perform minimally invasive procedures. The interventional radiologist performs a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic imaging procedures for opening blocked blood vessels, draining abnormal collection of fluids, relieving hypertension, and managing gastrointestinal bleeding. Instruments of this subspecialty include catheters, balloons, stents, filters, clotting devices, pulse spray devices, and lysing tools.

The benefits of interventional radiology over surgery include: significant reduction of risk, pain, and recovery time; no general anesthesia; and cost-effectiveness. Interventional radiologists are specially trained and often certified by the American Board of Radiology to perform such procedures as: angiography for the diagnosis of vascular disease; angioplasty for opening blocked vessels; placement of stents in narrowed or weak vessels; fibrinolysis for disintegrating blood clots; embolization to shrink fibroid tumors; removal of foreign bodies; and needle biopsies.

How should I prepare for my procedure?

The preparation and time required for an interventional radiology procedure varies widely. Although guidelines are available to review on this website, we advise you to consult your physician for details regarding your exam.

How long will the procedure take?

This varies depending on your procedure. Most procedures do not require an overnight stay and normally take from 30 minutes to 2 hours to perform. In addition, recovery from this procedure may take 3-5 hours.

What is a contrasting agent and how is it used?

Contrast agents (x-ray dyes) are routinely used in a number of interventional radiology procedures, especially those that involve the diagnosis of vascular disease. Agent is administered to a patient through a catheter, which helps to enhance visualization of blocked vessels, aneurysms, bleeding in the gastrointestinal system or the brain, and arteriovenous malformations. On rare occasions, these agents may cause an allergic reaction, which the radiology staff is qualified to handle. Patients must inform their physician or the radiology staff of prior allergic reactions or certain conditions.

Are these procedures safe if I'm pregnant?

As with any radiology procedure, pregnant women should consult with their physician before undergoing an interventional procedure.

What do I need to know prior to my cath procedure?

Keep in mind that pre-procedural preparation can vary from a patient to another and depending on the type of procedure. We strongly urge you to call your healthcare provider for instructions specific to your situation.

Following are some general guidelines.
Do follow these instructions unless your doctor specifies otherwise. If you are an outpatient, a cardiologist or radiologist will contact you prior to your procedure to give you more specific instructions. If you are already a patient in the hospital, your nurses and doctors will give you instructions and will help you get prepared for your procedure.

• Eating: Do not eat any solid food after midnight on the night before your procedure. You may drink clear fluids.
• Medications: Be sure to bring along a complete list of your medications. Most people can continue to take their prescribed medicines. You may take small sips of water with your morning medications. If you are a diabetic and take insulin, ask your doctor about modifying your insulin dose for the day of your procedure. If you take a blood thinner (such as Coumadin), you must also tell your doctor to see if it should be stopped.
• Allergies: If you are allergic to contrast (X-ray dye) or iodine, let your doctor know as soon as possible. If possible, let the radiologist or cardiologist know about your allergy a few days before your angiography procedure. Your doctors can then plan to take special precautions during the procedure.
• Smoking: Do not smoke for at least 24 hours before the procedure.

Is there anything I need to know for the time after my procedure?

To aid in your recovery, please review the following guidelines. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us or your healthcare provider.

To contact the Cath Lab weekdays from 7 am to 4 pm, call 503.435.6443. During the evenings, weekend or holidays, call the Willamette Valley Medical Center Radiology Department 503.435.6448 or Hospital Operator 503.472.6131 and ask to speak to the Cath Lab Nurse on call.

Guidelines:

• Make plans to have someone else drive you home.
• When you get home, take it easy for the rest of the day. Try to avoid going up and down flights of stairs. Avoid any strenuous activity for the next 24 hours. If you must strain or cough, hold pressure on the puncture site while doing so.
• Drink plenty of fluids for the next 24 hours.
• The bandage may be removed the morning after your procedure.
• Observe the puncture site for increased swelling, temperature, redness, pain, or any drainage.
• If any bleeding or enlarging mass is identified lie down and hold direct pressure on the site for at least 10 minutes. If this fails to stop it, come to the Willamette Valley Medical Center Emergency Department.