s02a.jpg (11144 bytes)Cardiac catheterization laboratories are changing. Cardiologists are branching out and embracing vascular work beyond the heart; interventional procedures are on the rise; and, as the population ages, cath labs are busier than ever.

To keep up with these changes, cath lab managers say they need versatile and efficient systems. Equipment manufacturers have answered that need with a variety of innovative cath lab configurations and technologies, from the hip swing lab to the stylin’ combo lab. Flat-panel detectors also have made their entry into the cardiac cath lab, providing cardiologists with even more options.

Creating combos
Today’s cardiologists no longer limit themselves to the heart, says David Strelow, operations manager for invasive laboratories at St. Luke’s-Shawnee Mission Health System, a network of eight hospitals in the Kansas City area.

Please refer to the March 2001 issue for the complete story. For information on article reprints, contact Martin St. Denis