A cath lab, otherwise called a catheterization laboratory, is a specialized exam room where equipment is used to visually access the chambers of the heart along with the arteries. The visualization equipment will be used here if any abnormality needs to be treated. Many cath labs use single pane technology, which uses one X-ray source and creates a single view of the heart. Newer cath labs use digital technology to create biplane imagery with dual X-ray sources. After the catheter has been placed, a number of procedures can be performed, including balloon septostomy, angioplasty, PCI angiography, and valve replacements.
Cath Labs
