Cardiac Catheterization Lab

CoxHealth Catheterization (Cath) Lab provides cardiac catheterizations, pacemaker insertions, internal defibrillator placement, intravascular ultrasound, rotablator procedures and other vessel angiograms, as well as balloon angioplasties and stents.

By placing small catheters (small flexible tubes) into arteries and veins, the highly trained and specialized Cath Lab staff can perform diagnostic and interventional procedures of the heart and vascular system, as well as the abdomen, head, neck and extremities.

Cardiac catheterizations and angioplasties are performed by a board certified interventional cardiologist; cardiologists perform other angiography procedures. Family members may accompany the patient to the Cath Lab door, where they will then be asked to wait during the procedure.

After the procedure, most patients return to their pre-procedure room. Outpatients may be discharged in a minimum of two hours following the procedure. The cardiologist will consult with the patient and family to discuss the findings and, if necessary, additional cardiac procedures.