Cardiovascular Services: Invasive

Cardiologists have access to the latest digital imaging systems, including the newly acquired 64-slice CT scanner.

Cardiac Catheterization
Angioplasty
Atrial Fibrillation
CryoAblation
Pacemakers

Cardiac Cath Lab

We have two (2)cardiac catheterization labs and and one (1) electrophysiology suite, where cardiologists use the latest digital imaging systems, including an all-digital X-ray cardiovascular imaging system. Here, physicians have a more precise view than ever as they carefully position stents, guidewires and catheters.

Expect More than Great Technology

Did you know?

TBHI uses the latest digital imaging systems.

Our staff are available to offer detailed explanations of the various procedures performed in the Cath Lab. In addition, please feel free to ask any member of our health care team for instructional videos, diagrams or brochures. The length of time a patient spends in the Cath Lab depends on the type of procedure required. Generally, 2 to 3 hours are needed. There is a waiting room next to the Cath Lab where family members may wait during testing. Once the procedure is complete, the physician will meet with family members in that location while the patient moves to the Cath Lab Recovery Room.

What is Heart Catheterization?
It is a special cardiovascular imaging exam that allows doctors to see coronary arteries that have blockages in them.

What is Angioplasty?
A catheter is threaded through the effected blood vessel. A doctor then threads a thin balloon through this catheter and expands it to open the blockage. Your doctor may then choose to keep it open by inserting a stent.

Cath Lab Procedures

Our cath labs perform a variety of cardiovascular interventions including:

Diagnostic cardiac catheterization (Link to general health info).
PTCA with stent placement (Link to general health info).
Electrophysiology (EP) (Link to general health info). EP involves the diagnosing and treatment of heart rhythm disturbances. An EP study collects the data about your heart's electrical flow during the actual event.

Expanding To Serve Our Community

Both phases of our expansion of the catheterization and electrophysiology capabilities are completed. We added the following:

Cath Lab
Digital picture archiving system
Surgery Suites
GI suites
Open Heart recovery Unit
Family waiting room with a private consultation area

Cardiovascular Electrophysiology
Cardiac electrophysiology is a division of cardiology that tests, diagnoses and treats heart rhythm abnormalities. Physicians are cardiologists who specialize in cardiac electrophysiology (Electricity of the Heart) and, the staff consists of technologists and nurses who are knowledgeable and experienced in the field.

An Electrophysiology (EP) Study is a study that is conducted in order to measure exactly how the electrical impulses flow through your heart during a heart beat. A small catheter is placed inside your heart to record electrical impulses and to determine areas of abnormal electrical conduction information. Electrophysiology procedures may be invasive or non-invasive.

Electrophysiology (EP) Studies

EP studies evaluate the following:

Diagnose the source of arrhythmia symptoms
Evaluate effectiveness of certain medications in controlling a heart rhythm disorder
Predict risk of a future cardiac event (ie. Sudden Cardiac Death)
Assess need for implantable device (ie. pacemaker or ICD)
Assess need for treatment procedure (radio frequency catheter ablation)

Why an EP Study?
Other tests used to measure the heart's electrical system are a vital to diagnosing certain conditions but they are brief tests that record only events that occur while the test is running. Arrhythmias are unpredictable and intermittent, which makes it unlikely that an ECG or electrocardiogram will capture the underlying electrical pathway problem. Even holter monitoring may not capture an event.

With an EP study, a specially trained cardiac specialist (link to TBHIC page) may provoke arrhythmia and collect the data about your heart's electrical flow during the actual event. This helps our specialists to isolate specific areas of the heart that may be triggering abnormal impulses.This helps pinpoint the best treatment options.

EP studies are often recommended for patients with symptoms of heart rhythm disorders or for people who may be at risk for Sudden Cardiac Death.