A catheterization laboratory (cath lab) at Chettinad Super Speciality Hospital boasts of more than 20000 cases. It is a specialized medical facility where minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are performed on the heart, brain, blood vessels, and other organs. The primary use of a cath lab in CARDIOLOGY is to diagnose and treat various cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and heart valve problems. The Cathlab at Chettinad is also equipped with high-end intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) equipment to help break hard atherosclerotic plaques.
Some of the procedures performed in a Cardiac cath lab include:
Angiography: A procedure in which a contrast dye is injected into the blood vessels to help visualize blockages or other abnormalities in the blood vessels.
Balloon Angioplasty: A procedure in which a small balloon is inserted into a blocked or narrowed blood vessel and inflated to widen the vessel and improve blood flow.
Stent Placement: A procedure in which a small, metal mesh tube is inserted into a blocked or narrowed blood vessel to keep it open.
Ablation: A procedure in which abnormal heart tissue is destroyed using heat or cold energy to treat conditions such as arrhythmias.
Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation: A procedure in which a device is implanted in the chest to help regulate the heart's rhythm.