Your Cath Lab Team
A safe and successful trip to the cath lab for angioplasty and stenting or another interventional procedure requires the coordinated efforts of a team of medical professionals who will not only perform the procedure and monitor your vital signs but will also prepare you before the procedure and look after your comfort and well-being after the procedure. Below are the medical professionals who will likely be part of your care team during the interventional procedure.
Interventional cardiologist
Interventional cardiologists rank among the foremost authorities on cardiovascular disease and its treatment. They specialize in treating cardiovascular problems with thin, flexible tubes called catheters. The interventional cardiologist is the physician who performs your catheterization procedure. They are the leader of the cath lab team dedicated to your care.
To become a cardiologist, they must first complete four years of medical school, three years of internal medicine or pediatrics training, and three or more additional years of education and practice focused on treating the heart, arteries, and veins. At this point in their training, they are adult or pediatric cardiologists. Next, they must spend at least one year developing skills in the cath lab to manage coronary artery disease (CAD), congenital (present at birth) heart disease, and/or structural heart conditions through catheter-based procedures such as angioplasty and stenting.
You should check that your physician is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPS) as evidence of their training and skill. Additionally, hospitals and state regulators require interventional cardiologists to have a valid medical license, be in good ethical standing in the profession, pass tests demonstrating knowledge and competency, earn and maintain hospital privileges, and demonstrate lifelong learning through Continuous Medical Education (CME).
Once you’re released from the hospital after your procedure, your interventional cardiologist will inform your cardiologist and/or primary care provider of the outcome of your procedure. (Your interventional cardiologist may be your general cardiologist as well.) This way, all of the key players on your care team are kept up to date on your progress. Still, requesting and keeping a copy of your cath lab report to show any other healthcare providers who might not have seen it and to help with your future care is a good idea.
Catheterization (cath) lab nurses and technicians
Cath lab nurses, including the cath lab manager and technicians, support the interventional cardiologist during your procedure. Cath lab nurses are closely involved in your care when you arrive at the cath lab. They monitor your condition and work to make you as comfortable as possible. They assist the interventional cardiologist during the procedure and may administer sedatives and other medications when needed. Cath lab technicians also help to monitor your condition and assist with the technical parts of your procedure. Technicians do not administer medicines. Cath lab technicians and nurses watch the monitors that display your heart rhythm and rate, breathing, and other vital information, and they notify your interventional cardiologist if they observe changes.
After your procedure, the cath lab nurses continue to provide watchful care in the recovery area. They watch for any sign of bleeding from the puncture site through which the interventional cardiologist threaded the catheter into your arteries. The cath lab nurses will frequently ask you how your puncture site feels. Plus, they’re available to answer questions and teach you how to care for your puncture wound once you leave the hospital.
Cardiac rehabilitation team
If your doctor recommends cardiac rehabilitation, you’ll work with a team of healthcare professionals that may include nurses, exercise physiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, dieticians and nutritionists, counselors, and others who will provide education and coaching to support you as you learn and adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle such as eating a healthy diet, becoming more physically active, and managing stress.
Cardiologist and primary care physician
Your cardiologist and primary care physician will continue to serve as a team in your care. Your cardiologist will be closely involved while you’re under the care of the interventional cardiologist and should also provide reports and updates to your primary care physician to ensure your continued coordinated care.