The cath lab, also known as a catheter laboratory or cardiac catheterisation laboratory, is part of a hospital’s cardiac department. Find out what happens there.
A cath lab is where tests and procedures including ablation, angiogram, angioplasty and implantation of pacemakers / ICDs are carried out. Usually you’ll be awake for these procedures. A cath lab is staffed by a team of different specialists, usually led by a cardiologist. A cath lab shouldn’t be confused with an operating theatre, where you would have surgery such as a heart bypass operation, under a general anaesthetic.
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