Brigham and Women's Cardiovascular Associates at Care New England

Cardiac Catheterization

The Cardiac Catheterization Lab (CCL) at Kent Hospital opened in 1990 to provide diagnostic catheterization procedures for patients with coronary disease and related conditions. In 2015, supported by Care New England’s clinical affiliation with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the Kent CCL expanded its services to include urgent and emergency interventional catheterization procedures.

Quality Care

In 2020, the CCL performed over 1,000 cardiac diagnostic and interventional procedures, including over 400 routine, urgent, and emergency coronary interventions. The CCL also offers a complete array of cardiac electrophysiology diagnostic and therapeutic services, including cardioversions, ablation, and implantation of state-of-the-art pacemakers and defibrillators. 

The staff at CCL understand that patient safety, procedure outcome, and care quality matter more than ever, and are dedicated to achieving the highest level of excellence in these areas, especially during this challenging time brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cardiac Catheterization FAQs

What is cardiac catheterization?

Cardiac Catheterization is a procedure used to diagnose and treat certain cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, certain congenital heart conditions, and valvular heart disease. This diagnostic procedure is often the first step before treatment such as an angioplasty.

Through diagnostic catheterization, interventional cardiologists measure the blood flow and internal pressures of the heart, assess heart valve leakage or blockage, and with angiography, examine the insides of the arteries throughout the body for blockages.

What happens during a catheterization?

In cardiac catheterization, a very small hollow tube, or catheter, is advanced from a blood vessel in the groin or arm through the aorta into the heart. Once the catheter is in place, several diagnostic techniques may be used. The catheter can be inserted into various parts of the heart.

The catheter can also be placed into the coronary arteries and dyes inserted. Various X-rays and other procedures can then be utilized to view pictures inside the body in order to assess the patient.

Angioplasty, coronary intervention, and stenting may be done as part of or following, a catheterization. Catheterization is a safe medical procedure where any complications are rarely seen.

Why have a cardiac catheterization?

Catheterization aids in the evaluation of cardiac disease, which is imperative in order to get a good diagnosis in order to create a proper care plan for a patient suffering from a heart-related condition.

It is used to confirm congenital heart conditions, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and valvular heart disease.