Sanford Cardiac Cath Lab

The Sanford Cardiac Cath Lab is designed to diagnose and treat patients with heart disease, as well as patients with blockages in kidney, brain, arm and leg arteries. Equipped with state-of-the-art digital imaging and treatment technology, the cath lab is used to treat emergency patients in the midst of a heart attack as well as patients scheduled for diagnostic and treatment procedures. These include:

• Angiogram: Using catheters, doctors can determine, with the aid of imaging fluids and X-ray technology, where a blockage may be located.
• Angioplasty: By using balloon-tipped catheters inserted through the groin, doctors can open arterial blockages, allowing blood to flow freely to the heart.
• Atrial septal defect (ASD) closure: Using catheters, doctors repair a hole between a patient?s upper heart chambers in the cardiac catheterization lab by placing a wire mesh patch into the heart to close the hole.
• Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS): Allows doctors to see images inside the heart and coronary arteries to assist with diagnosis and treatment.
• Pacemakers and defibrillators: These devices are designed to help keep hearts beating at the right pace and rhythm.
• Stents: Following an angioplasty, the doctor may insert a small mesh-like tube called a stent into the vessel that was blocked, significantly reducing the chance of another blockage in that area.

Statistics

Sanford Health's catheterization statistics exceed national averages on nearly every measurement. For example, the lab has achieved a 98 percent success rate with PTCA/Stent procedures, a 4.2 percent clinical restenosis rate, an overall complication rate of 0.9 percent and less than 1 percent of our interventional procedures converted to coronary bypass surgery.

Sanford Health was recently recognized for excellence in cardiac care risk-adjusted healthcare outcome data analysis. For example, for heart attack care, Sanford Health performed 25 percent better than predicted based upon in-house and six-month post-hospital stay mortality rates.

What is cardiac catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is a common, relatively painless, nonsurgical procedure that can help your doctor diagnose a heart problem. In some cases, catheterization can be used to treat heart disease, as well.

To perform the procedure, your cardiologist inserts a long, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel and gently guides it toward your heart. Once the catheter is in place, X-rays and other tests are done to help your doctor evaluate how well your heart is working.

Contact information

Sanford Cardiac Cath Lab
300 N. Seventh St.
Bismarck, ND 58501