What is the size of your cath lab facility and number of staff members? Our cath lab consists of three rooms, including one peripheral room. We have 4 registered nurses (RNs), 4 radiologic technologists (RTs), 1 cardiovascular technologist (CVT) who is also a emergency medical technician-paramedic (EMT-P) and 2 registered cardiovascular invasive specialists (RCISs). Each of our staff has an average of 5 to 10 years of cath lab experience. We assist 20-25 physicians in the surrounding area.

The SINCERE database was created to explore the feasibility of performing primary PCI for short door-to-balloon time ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) interventions. SINCERE contains over 216 acute MI procedures performed by a single, highly experienced operator available 24/7 and working at 5 community hospitals.

ABSTRACT Background. Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure is indicated for recurrent cryptogenic stroke occurring on anticoagulant therapy. Few patients meet this criterion, and the safety of this procedure when performed infrequently is unclear. Methods. Fifty-two patients with cryptogenic stroke (66%) or transient ischemic attack (34%) undergoing PFO closure from June 2001 to December 2004 were analyzed. Cardio-seal, Amplatzer or Cardiastar devices were used. Patients were discharged on aspirin, clopidogrel or (at the discretion of the neurologist) coumadin for 6 months. Results. The study population was young (mean age 51 years) and included 25 males (48%). Seventeen patients (34%) had atrial septal aneurysms. Balloon-stretched PFO size ranged from 6 to 25 mm. Deployment success was 100%; mild residual shunting persisted in 10 (19%) at hospital discharge. Mean length of stay was 1 day. Pre-discharge complications included bleeding in 4 patients and a

This monthly column in Cath Lab Digest reviews important points of distinction in drug-eluting stents, from characteristics to techniques, to provide valuable and relevant information about this technology. This article, the first of a two-part series on clinical data, focuses on the meta-analysis and its role within interventional cardiology.

One of the hottest topics in most cath labs is turnaround times, which have a significant impact on patient, staff and physician satisfaction. They influence volume, throughput, efficiency, revenue, and even retention of both patients and staff. The Carolinas Medical Center (CMC), an 861-bed urban teaching hospital with 105,000 emergency department visits annually and 2500 annual coronary interventions in its cath lab, has been taking a painstaking look at its turnaround times. CMC continues to develop and implement strategies to successfully address this perpetual conundrum.

I hear the doctor dictating “TIMI FLOW 2” or “TIMI FLOW 3.” What does that mean? — Submission to tginapp@rcisreview.com from an employee at a hospital in Miami, Florida.

I am a graduate of the Santa Fe Community College Cardiopulmonary Technology (CPT) program in Gainesville, Florida and have been in invasive cardiology since 1989. I have been fortunate to have a very fulfilling career, which has allowed me to work within the field in various capacities. I have worked as an registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS) in labs in Ocala and Pensacola, Florida, Yakima, Washington and now Anchorage, Alaska. I have worked in various management capacities from team lead, to coordinator, and manager for cath labs, electrophysiology (EP) labs and interventional radiology labs. I have seen many changes over the years. The technology has evolved to provide even greater benefits than ever before.

It was one of those days in the cath lab. We were very busy, yet I was feeling the minutes drag. Working non-stop from the morning, we had worked on through lunch and were finally finishing our last case for the day.

Announcing a marriage between two cath lab RNs.

The interventionalist presented his case. A 59-year-old man with prior history of myocardial infarction with a new non-ST elevation myocardial infarction was found to have severe three-vessel coronary artery disease (CAD). Angioplasty and stenting was planned. Several lesions were only 50-60% narrowed and the 80%-narrowed target lesion in the circumflex artery was presumed to be producing ischemia. No assessment of left ventricular (LV) function was obtained before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The interventionalist thought that an echo was performed sometime before cath but couldn’t recall the details. He proceeded to perform a moderately high-risk intervention in a patient with multivessel disease with no appreciation of the LV function. In such cases, one must ask, is the LV gram obsolete?

Greetings cardiac and vascular professionals, and welcome to the first of a new monthly installment in Cath Lab Digest, entitled YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS: Career Advice. In the coming months, this column will feature expert consultants from Corazon, Inc., who will present useful and vital information that can help you make the most of your profession. We have been working hard to put together a schedule of articles that we believe you’ll find interesting, informative and valuable to your everyday clinical practice and the advancement of your career.

SICP Editor’s note: : Shirly is an active member of the Oregon Chapter of the SICP (Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals) and is writing a series of articles about teamwork. We hope you enjoy her work.

News from the Emerald Coast Chapter and the Illinois Chapter of the SICP, plus a "Save the Date" from Wisconsin.