Best Cath Lab in US?

[KimC]

Hi,

I spoke to my cardio last night who said it's time for a cath. I could have the test done in Charleston at MUSC or the Cleveland Clinic. The latter sounds better, but is it?

Anyone care to offer who has the best cath lab in the US? Also, has anyone had the ergovine test?

Thanks,

 

[Bryan B]

Kim,

I'm not sure what the ergovine test is so I don't think I've had it.

As far as cath labs, I had my surgery at Duke in NC but I had my cath at Centennial in Nashville. I have nothing but great things to say about that facility and how I was treated. I also spent a few days there during my endocarditis and have the same thing to say about that stay. I guess what I'm saying is that Centennial does not have the reputation that Duke has, but for a cath they met my needs perfectly. I was able to use my cardio, and I didn't need to travel and was able to move my surgery up by a couple of weeks because I didn't have to go on a "waiting list" for a busy cardio at Duke. I would not only consider the facility but the cardio doing the cath. If you like your current cardio I would consider staying put and let him do the cath. If he's not an "invasive cardio" I would go where you felt most comfortable (which sounds like CC to me )

 

[ccrawford]

Kim - I agree with Bryan. No need to go accross the country for a cath. Find out who locally has a good reputation and go for it. Your cardio can probably answer the question for you. I'd also ask if they use the Perclose method of closing the incision - unless you like lying around in a hospital bed for half a day. With Perclose, you can be on your feet in an hour or so.

 

[Bryan B]

Good point Chris. I had the Angioseal (plug made by St. Judes) and only had to lay flat for 2 hours. They woke me up for lunch, I did a lap around the nurses station and I was out of there.

 

[KimC]

Thanks for the tip, Chris. I H-A-T-E hospitals!

Bryan, I misspelled the drug used in the test -- it's a heart catheterization with "Ergonovine" administration to attempt to provoke coronary vasospasm. I've heard that some facilities won't do it be/c of complications! The CC performs the test more often. Hmmmm ...

Best,

 

[medtronic of borg]

Caths

Caths

When I read this I suddenly had the fear that I may have scared a few people a while back re: cut downs. Rest asured they do not do this any more and caths have come a long way.
All I would do is check the drs rate of perforations and compair it with others in your area. Keeping in mind a perf is not a good thing.

Med

 

[Bryan B]

Kim,

Given that information I would probably lean towards CC. They have probably performed more of these and have better response time if there are problems. Plus if you end up needing surgery and plan on using CC, this trip would give you the opportunity to check the place out. My cath was a very simple r/l cath checking for coronary blockage. My surgeon wasn't even going to do one, except I smoked for 20 years and had only recently quit.

BTW, it's my 4 week surgery anniversary and my 12 week aniversary without a cigarrette. I quit 8 weeks before surgery, and it's absolutely the best thing I could have ever done for myself. My o2 levels were great after surgery and I feel I owe this to giving my lungs time to "clear themselves out" and heal some before the surgery. Now it's just a matter of keeping my gaurd up. With all the free time on my hands I've had a few of those devilish cravings tapping me on the shoulder.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Cath Labs

Cath Labs

You can check ANY Hospital by location and procedure at www.HealthGrades.com

Any hospital that does >1000 cath's per year should be very good. The more they do, the better they get. For special tests, just be sure to go somewhere where they do them regularly.

I'm VERY pleased with my local hospital (Huntsville Hospital in North Alabama) and would not even think about going 'out of town'. I lost count after 10 cath's and have had only one 'complication', a Hematoma that developed because I tried to do too much too soon, i.e. I returned to work after only a couple of days many years ago. Their cath lab is state of the art, and possibly the best in our state. There are over 25 cardiologists at the Heart Center with around 6 who primarily do nothing but caths so they are VERY EFFICIENT and have excellent numbers. They can do a 'basic cath' in 20 MINUTES!

Yes, I was SCARED 'out of my mind' before my first Cath. After that, I had one of those "Is that all there is..." reactions. It was a 'piece of cake'. I actually enjoyed watching the wire move around inside my heart as the cardiologist checked each artery.

'AL'

 

[KimC]

AL, thanks for the reassurance. Yeah, I'm scared. It's like being on the edge of a pool and deciding whether or not I'll dive in, even though my coach is telling me I have to. Actually, my body is telling me I have to.

Bryan, keep that little devil under your bed! Congratulations on 4 weeks and 12 weeks w/out a cancer stick. The luck of the Irish is w/ ya!

Warm regards,

 

[ccrawford]

Kim - While a cath is a fairly involved procedure, I'ts not something to be deathly affraid of. After my first one in the afternoon of one day, I went to see a production of Hadel's Messiah. I was a little uncomfortable on the hard pews, but other than that, no big thing. By the way, my first cath was one to inject dye in my brain seaching for a blood clot.

 

[Marty]

Cath lab?

Cath lab?

Its not the "lab", its the doctor. Ask your cardiologist who he would pick to do the exam on him and then make arrangements to have that doctor do yours. See him ahead of time to discuss the procedure if you can. Ask how long the procedure should take, how much dye he usually needs, side effects,
recovery time, etc.and any thing else you can think of. Big famous university hospitals may not be the best choice. You could have a first year resident working on you.

 

[KimC]

Chris, is it an understatement to say you've been through a lot? Thanks. Maybe I should make plans after the procedure to be optimistic.

Marty, good point re: "It's the doctor, stupid!" I'll be sure to do my homework.

Heartfelt thanks --

 

[ccrawford]

Kim - Compared to many on this site, my adventures have been a walk in the park. Chris

 

[John & Joann]

Cleveland Clinic did the first catherization in the world. They do the most catherizations by facility in the world each year. They have a doctor who has done more catherizations that any other physicial. (Dr. Hoopler). Cleveland Clinic MAY require that your catherization be done in their facility if they are going to do the surgery so that they are certain of the results. This may depend on the procedure, complications, etc.

Joann has had 6 catherizations. 2 were at Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Hoopler (sp.)

God Bless!

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Interesting info Joann...

I seem to recall a story that the FIRST cath was performed by a (European) Doctor ON HIMSELF.

Anybody know the 'rest of the story'?

'AL'

 

[Marty]

The rest of the story

The rest of the story

Interesting info Joann...

I seem to recall a story that the FIRST cath was performed by a (European) Doctor ON HIMSELF.

Anybody know the 'rest of the story'?

'AL'

Werner Forsmann a German, while a 24 year old intern at a small hospital near Berlin catheterized the right side of his own heart by way of a vein in his elbow.The date was in 1929. Mason Sones the son of a blue collar machinist graduated from the University of Maryland, trained in cardiology at Henry Ford in Detroit and in 1950 was appointed director of pediatric cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. All through the 50's he was driven in his research to perfect cardiac catheterization with visualization of the coronary arteiries. In 1962 he published his great paper CINE CORONARY ARTERIOGRAPHY based on 1020 brave patients examined at the Cleveland Clinic. His work enabled the surgeons to embark on a new era of heart surgery which included the bypass operation.The Cleveland Clinic would not be where it is today without the work of Mason Sones.

 

[John & Joann]

The Catherization Laboratory at Cleveland Clinic is named the Sones Catherization Laboratory. Joann had her first catherization done in 1960. It was not a good procedure. She was very small and the probes were designed for BIG men. It was like a Rotorooter procedure. BAD NEWS! Done at Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio. Survival rate for 2 valve surgeries was less than 20%. We waited for the procedure to improve. Some died so that others may live. Sad, but true for everyone on this forum.

Thank God for the gift of life.

 

[RCB]

Lost count

Lost count

I had my first in 1958, in Cleveland's St. Vincent hospital. At that time they had a lead over CC in heart valve sugery. They were all transradial then.
If you are interested in a brief historical overview visit:


http://members.evansville.net/ict/calender.htm

 

[tommy]

My cardio is in a group that has one doc that does most of the cath's. Lot's of experience is a good thing. That was comforting.

 

[KimC]

Y'all, it's clear to me that EXPERIENCE is key! I almost had my third child delivered at MUSC but was spooked when a resident answered my call the night I went into labor. She knew NOTHING about my history or me. I ended up delivering locally which all said and done, we made it!

Marty, who's da best doc/facility at caths in your region? I'm "homesick" and may find a really, really good excuse to fly North. I saw Dr. Tracy briefly at G'town ...

Many thanks,