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Loyola's state-of-the-art catheterization laboratory offers catheterization tests to diagnose conditions of the heart and vascular system. Cardiac and peripheral vascular procedures for pediatric and adult patients are performed in three cardiac catheterization suites.
In cardiac catheterization, a thin tube (a catheter)
is inserted into a blood vessel (for example, in the
arm or leg) then guided toward the area to be viewed.
The use of a contrast dye and X-ray technology helps
identify blockages and other problems with the heart
and/or arteries.
Services offered at Loyola include:
Angiogram
Intravascular ultrasound
Angiogram
An angiogram is used to examine blood flow within an
artery or vein. General angiograms can be used to evaluate
the arteries or veins in the arms, legs, chest, or abdomen.
Special angiogram tests can look at the arteries near
the heart (coronary angiogram), lungs (pulmonary angiogram),
brain (cerebral angiogram), and aorta (aortogram). A
small catheter (hollow tube) is inserted in the entry
site (which may be the leg, arm or neck) and then guided
through a vein or artery to the area to be studied.
An iodine compound (a colorless liquid dye) is injected
through the catheter. While using X-ray, motion pictures
are made as the dye travels through the vessels.
Intravascular Ultrasound
Catheters that contain tiny ultrasound cameras can be
guided into the arteries to give a valuable cross-sectional
view from the inside out, showing the physician where
the normal artery wall ends and any plaque begins. This
procedure is done as part of a coronary angiogram procedure
and typically adds 5 to 10 minutes to the procedure.
If you would like to make an appointment or need assistance
to find an appropriate physician, please call us at
(888) LUHS-888.
Related Links
Catheterization
treatments
Interventional
neuroradiology conditions and procedures
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