24/7 Cardiac Cath
During a cardiac emergency, any delay in restoring blood flow increases the chance for significant damage to the heart muscle.
On July 1, 2020, Watauga Medical Center (WMC) began performing cardiac catheterizations 24/7. This expanded service ensures patients experiencing a cardiac emergency receive a prompt diagnosis and expedited treatment in Boone. With 24/7 coverage, cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, emergency department providers and emergency first responders can partner to diagnose problems with blood flow, blood pressure and valve function, which can save lives and reduce the chances of long-term heart damage.
Watauga Medical Center has two interventional procedure labs equipped to provide comprehensive cardiovascular care including coronary and peripheral vascular procedures, interventional radiology, interventional cardiac procedures (cardiac cath), and device implants such as heart monitors, pacemakers and defibrillators. On average, more than 450 diagnostic cardiac catheterizations are done annually at WMC.
“The catheterization lab also boasts a 60-minute door-to-balloon time,” said Dr. Donna Denier, Medical Director of Cardiovascular Services at UNC Health Appalachian. (Door-to-balloon time is a national metric in the treatment of heart attacks. It denotes the time between when the patient arrives in the emergency room until the time the balloon is inflated in the blocked coronary artery. The recommended door-to-balloon time is 90 minutes.)
What happens during a cath procedure?
During a catheter procedure, a small tube is inserted into an artery in the wrist or the groin and maneuvered into the heart and coronary arteries. A dye is inserted through the tube to show the cardiologist where the blockage is in the arteries.
The physician provides the results of the procedure immediately to the family and to the patient once they are alert. The physician may let the patient go home and follow up with an office visit. There may be further intervention required by the cardiologist which could require the patient to stay overnight or a follow up consult with a cardiac surgeon.
