Lancaster General’s Cardiac Cath Lab performs more than 4,500 diagnostic catheterizations and 1,400 interventional procedures annually.
Diagnostic Procedures- Procedures that help provide information about your heart and/or lungs and the arteries that provide oxygen and blood to these organs. This information helps your doctors make decisions regarding your care and treatment.
Left Heart Catheterization and Coronary Angiography (LHCC’s)
A sheath (short tube) is inserted into the artery in your leg through which a flexible catheter is advanced to your heart. X-ray dye is then injected through the catheter to visualize your coronary arteries and check for blockages. Pictures are also taken to determine the strength of your heart muscle.
Right and Left Coronary Heart Catheterization and Coronary Angiography (RLHCC’s)
In addition to the above procedure, a sheath will be inserted into the vein in your leg and a catheter advanced to your lungs. This allows us to measure pressures in your heart and lungs.
Blockage Assessment
Several procedures can be used to assist your physician in determining the severity of any blockages found in your coronary arteries.
Pulmonary Arteriogram (PA Gram)
Pictures of the arteries in your lungs are taken utilizing a catheter. This catheter is inserted into a vein in your leg and advanced to your lungs. X-ray dye is then injected through the catheter to check for blood clots.
Interventional Procedures- Interventional procedures are used to correct problems in your heart that are discovered during one of the diagnostic procedures mentioned above.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
When a blockage is found in one or more of your coronary arteries, your doctors have several options for fixing the blockage(s). The majority of blockages can be fixed using one or more of the following methods. However, in some instances, your doctors may refer you to our highly regarded team of cardiac surgeons, the Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Lancaster. They are the exclusive providers of cardiac surgery to Lancaster General.
Balloon Angioplasty (PTCA)
During Balloon Angioplasty, a tiny balloon on the tip of a catheter is advanced into your coronary artery and across the blockage. The balloon is then inflated, compressing the blockage against the artery wall.
Coronary Stent Implantation
A coronary stent is a small metal tube, much like the spring in a pen, which is mounted on an angioplasty balloon. The stent and balloon are advanced across a blockage. Once in position, the balloon is inflated, implanting the stent into the wall of the artery. Stents act as a scaffolding to hold the artery open. Most of the stents we use are coated with a drug that helps prevent scar tissue forming inside the stent.
Rotational Atherectomy (PTRA)
When a blockage is very hard, due to calcium buildup on the inside of the artery, a diamond-tipped drill is used to reduce the blockage
Thrombectomy
When a coronary artery contains clot, several devices can be used to remove this clot and restore blood flow to your heart.
Coronary Ultrasound
If x-ray pictures are not enough to diagnose a problem in your arteries, an ultrasound catheter can be advanced to obtain images from inside your artery.
Septal Defect
There may be options available, at the discretion of your cardiologist, which could be used to fix holes in the septum of your heart.
Vena Cava Filter
This is a metal filter that is placed in a major vein returning to your heart to prevent blood clots from entering your lungs. In time, any blood clots that are trapped in the filter simply dissolve.