Cardiac catheter lab manager:
Mark Bowers
Overview
The four cardiac catheter labs at Harefield Hospital treat a variety of cases and carry out a variety of procedures on emergency transfer and ambulance patients. The labs specialise in primary or emergency primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PPCI), boasting a door to balloon time of under 30 minutes. The department completes approximately 120 PPCI activations every month.
Technological advances include the use of the Hansen robot, which connects to the patient and can be used to drive catheters from outside the room with extreme precision. The implementation of iPlan, an electronic scheduling system, will revolutionise the catheter laboratories efficiency and patient treatment as well. IPlan keeps the wards informed and allows patients to be aware at all times where their procedure slot is.
Dealing with live digital catheter laboratory lists will better ensure appropriate staff and equipment is prepared for the procedures, which in turn will ensure the smooth running of the labs.
The cardiac catheter labs closely interact and liaise with the wards, theatres and ITU to provide a smooth journey for the patient. The team usually consists of:
- cardiologists
- radiographers
- nurses
- cardiac physiologists
- healthcare assistants.
They carry out numerous procedures including diagnostic X-rays (angiograms), PPCIs, pacemaker and complex device insertions, electrophysiological studies and transcatheter aortic valves implantations(TAVI).