224 Hamburg Turnpike

Wayne, New Jersey 07470

973-942-6900

Last update:

02/09/2007

About The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

 Located on the second floor of St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital, the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is a suite of six beautifully decorated rooms that include:

• Procedure Room---Catheterization is performed in this room. It includes an X-ray table with a large camera located above it and several television screens adjacent to the table. Heart monitors and other monitoring equipment are also in this room.
• Control Room--   Included in this room is the Viewing Monitor that allows for multiple viewing of the heart muscle and arteries, the viewing console, a multi-function control board and a hemodynamic monitoring system that enables staff to continuously monitor the patient’s electrocardiogram and heart pressures.
• Patient Holding Area—This area provides a comfortable and quiet environment for patients before they undergo the procedure and for recovery after the procedure is completed.  Patients are closely monitored by Propaq CS, a system which monitors patients’ electrocardiogram, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. 

During the initial recovery phase, patients benefit from visual therapy by viewing a mural that depicts soothing, relaxing floral and other scenes.

• Viewing Room---Physicians view the images of the heart on the Medcon system.
• Reception Area---Family members or friends can wait in this comfortably decorated area while their loved one undergoes the procedure.
• Consultation Room---Following the completion of the procedure, the cardiologist  meets with family members in this room to discuss the results of the catheterization and recommendations for treatment.

Staff:

The staff of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory includes:

• Medical Director---A Board certified cardiologist who has completed fellowship training in interventional cardiology, including cardiac catheterization.
• Administrative Director---A registered nurse with extensive experience caring for patients in coronary care units, critical care units and cardiac catheterization.
• Chief Radiologic Technologist--- Assists the cardiologist with all diagnostic procedures.
• Cardiovascular Specialist
• Registered Nurse--- Prepares the patient for the procedure and closely monitors the patient during the recovery period.

Equipment:

The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory offers the following state-of-the-art equipment:

• Philips Integris CV Angiographic X-Ray equipment---This system is controlled by a computer which converts received X-Ray signals into a digital mode to be processed by a computer before final display on a television monitor. It also features a digital subtraction attachment for peripheral studies. The picture will be stored in a server and then recorded onto a compact disc. This enables the physician to obtain the most accurate information available for comprehensive assessment of the patient’s condition and subsequent treatment planning.
• Quinton Q-Cath Cardiac Catheterization System---This system utilizes Windows NT which allows for the proper integration of information about all aspects of cardiac cycle-arterial pressures, or blood pressure in the arterial system. It also measures valve patency  to determine if there is any tightening or leakage of the valves as well as the performance of ventricles and blood flow through the heart vessels.
• Medcon System---provides the ability to compile all the hemodynamic data—the flow of blood through the heart ---and records pictures of the heart in order to present a comprehensive report of the heart muscle and functioning. It allows for images to be transferred to private physicians’ offices for immediate interpretation. If patients require surgery or other advanced procedures, this information can be immediately transferred to tertiary care facilities.

Patients Served:

Patients who may benefit from cardiac catheterization include:

• People who are experiencing chest pain and have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors.
• People who are diagnosed with an abnormal stress test
• People whose heart function needs to be fully assessed before they undergo a surgical procedure.
• People who have been diagnosed with valvular heart disease.
• People who have congenital defects in the heart.
• People who have suffered a heart attack
• People whose heart muscle needs to be assessed to determine if it can pump blood thoroughly and efficiently.

The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

For further information on the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital, please E-mail Jim Pabian,  Administrator or call (973) 956-3326.