Cardiac Catheterization is a procedure where the cardiologist inserts a thin plastic tube (catheter) into your blood vessels and is advanced into the chambers of the heart and the coronary arteries so as to collect information on the pressure and oxygen concentrations in different parts of the heart.

The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is tailored for diagnostic workup and therapeutic intervention of various kinds of heart diseases. Apart from coronary angiography, angioplasty and stenting, cardiologists can also repair simple heart defects, or open up a narrowed heart valve during cardiac catheterization. Facilities for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias by modern methods such as catheter ablation are also available.

Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure. Major complications of cardiac catheterization are rare, but do occur. The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is supported by a full team of expert cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. With an adjacent Operation Theater, open heart surgery can be performed immediately in the rare event of life-threatening complications.

This laboratory offers examinations such as electrocardiography, dynamic ECG, 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, treadmill exercise ECG, head-up tilt table test, vascular physiology tests, trans-thoracic echocardiography, trans-esophageal echocardiography, and tissue Doppler testing. Stress echocardiography is also available but not on a routine basis.

Pulmonary functional tests, including spirometry and bronchodilator tests are also available. Other studies performed in the Cardiopulmonary Laboratory include:

	Arterial Blood Analysis
	Cardio Call
	Color Doppler Echocardiograms
	Electrocardiograms
	Electroencephalograms
	Exercise Stress Test
	Non-Invasive Diagnostic Testing
	Non-Invasive Oscillometric Blood Pressure (NIBP) Monitor
	Pediatric and Adult Echo Cardiography
	Pulmonary Function Testing
	Pulse Oximetry
	Respiratory Care
	Special Monitoring and Aerosol Therapy
	Stress Echocardiograms (ECG)
	Ventilator Support
	24-hour Holter Monitoring

The system allows doctors to accurately evaluate whether a stent is placed close to the vessel wall of a heart disease patient to lower his or her chances of a heart attack. The scan can also give insights in to any blood clots prior to the operation.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a computer based tomography imaging system with the world’s highest definition. Its resolution is as high as 10μm, producing images 10 times clearer than those captured by intravascular ultrasound. Its scanning speed is also more than 10 times faster than ultrasound. This enables doctors to obtain quick and accurate visuals of the patient’s cardiovascular thrombosis condition.

Advantages of OCT:

• Produces images so clear it’s like observing through a microscope. It can also instantly and directly observe the effects of any treatments. Through the OCT, doctors can inspect if the stent is fitted close enough to the vessel wall during a patient’s percutaneous coronary intervention. If not, doctors can make prompt adjustments.
• Can effectively monitor if there is a stenosis condition. OCT also displays large cholesterol plaques better than older methods.
• Better understanding of the patient’s condition if a disease recurs: Blood clots could form a few years after a patient has been fitted with a stent. This may lead to acute myocardial infarction. OCT can clearly show the buildup of blood clots and the information can assist doctors to advise appropriate treatment.