The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is where cardiologists can diagnose and treat heart conditions using catheters instead of surgery. Catheters are spaghetti-like plastic tubes used to insert special equipment to diagnose or treat a heart problem. The many different sizes and shapes of catheters allow the cardiologist to perform a variety of tasks.
Many different procedures can be done in the catheterization lab instead of an operating room. The basic parts of different procedures are very similar. For diagnosis, catheters may be used to measure pressure in the heart. Catheters can be used to insert special dyes that enable doctors to take pictures of the inside of the heart (called angiography). These diagnostic procedures help the doctor plan your care by providing information that an echocardiogram may not be able to show. Often, catheters are used to treat common heart defects; this use is called interventional or therapeutic catheterization.
Catheters may be used to open up narrowed blood vessels and heart valves, close holes in the septum (wall) between heart chambers and close abnormal blood vessels. Very specialized catheters are used to study and treat heart rhythms. They give cardiologists information they can’t get by looking at an electrocardiogram (ECG). They also can be used to treat some rhythm problems through a procedure called radiofrequency ablation.
The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is located at the 2nd Floor of the Medical Office Building (MOB).
For inquiries, call (63 2)771-9000 to 02 local 5805.