The low X-ray dose levels in the four new Cath Labs will reduce exposure by 50%-70%. Photo Credit: Philips
Thanks to NKCH’s long-term commitment to upgrade its Cardiac Catheterization Labs, interventional cardiologists will be able to treat more patients more efficiently and with reduced radiation exposure. Within the next 18 months, the hospital’s five Cath Labs, which are nine to 18 years old, will be replaced with four larger suites, including a hybrid operating room. Construction of the first Cath Lab is already complete.
“The high-quality, precise technology of our new Cath Labs allows us to provide the most state-of-the-art care to our patients,” said NKCH Chest Pain Center and STEMI Program Director James H. Mitchell, MD, FACC, an interventional cardiologist with Meritas Health Cardiology.
Reduced Radiation
Physicians and patients benefit from the equipment’s low X-ray dose levels. For patients, exposure is reduced by 50%-70%.
“The reduced radiation exposure is a significant advantage because we can stay within recommend thresholds, especially with larger patients who require more radiation exposure in order to evaluate their vessels,” said Zafir A. Hawa, FACC, FSCAI, an interventional cardiologist with Meritas Health Cardiology.
Hybrid OR
Meritas Health interventional cardiologists currently perform transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures for heart valve replacements in the Surgery OR. The addition of a dedicated Cath Lab hybrid OR also will give patients greater access to this life-saving procedure.
“Right now, we are putting our equipment on a cart and rolling it into the Surgery OR hybrid room,” Dr. Hawa said. “Having our own hybrid room with dedicated equipment in the same location will allow us to perform more cases because we won’t be limited by the Surgery OR schedule.”
Beyond TAVRs, the Cath Lab hybrid OR will give patients access to new procedures coming down the pike. “Our new hybrid OR will help us stay up to date with cutting-edge technology for structural heart procedures,” Dr. Mitchell added.
Workflow Optimization
Combined with a more maneuverable ceiling-mounted ergonomic design, the image-guided therapy captures detailed images of a patient’s coronary structure, enabling physicians to diagnose and perform a wide range of routine and complex procedures, including angioplasty and stent procedures, cardiac and radiofrequency ablations, defibrillator and pacemaker implantations, electrophysiology studies, generator changes, lead revisions and cardiac catheterizations.
The functionality also allows physicians to simultaneously view previous and live echos. Except for structural heart procedures, which will be performed in the hybrid OR, any patient can be treated in any of the suites, where before each suite was dedicated to a specific cardiac treatment.
The precatheterization holding area also will be upgraded by increasing the number of patient rooms from eight to 11, including an isolation room; enlarging the nursing station; and enhancing the look of the area.
“We are fortunate to be part of Meritas Health and aligned with North Kansas City Hospital, whose investment will bring long-lasting benefits to patients,” Dr. Mitchell added.
Zafir A. Hawa, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Dr. Hawa earned his medical degree from the University of Bombay. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of North Dakota Medical Center, critical care fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and cardiology research, cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowships at Western Pennsylvania Hospital.
James H. Mitchell, MD, FACC
Dr. Mitchell earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowships at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston.