Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

The Children's Heart Center Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment to diagnosis many forms of congenital heart defects, or to reevaluate previously repaired heart defects and to obtain biopsies of the heart muscle to detect rejection of transplanted hearts.

CHC interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons also use the cardiac catheterization laboratory to treat many forms of congenital heart defects that had previously been treated with open or closed heart surgery. Interventional procedures performed in the catheterization laboratory often require a shorter hospital stay and allow a more rapid recovery than conventional heart surgery. By performing interventional cardiac catheterization procedures in combination with open-heart surgery, Children's Heart Center physicians can provide patients with cutting edge treatments in the safest and most effective way.  Catheterization procedures include:

• Balloon Valvuloplasty of Stenotic Valves
• Intravascular Stent Placement
• Device closures of Atrial Septal Defects (ASD), Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) & Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
• Endomyocardial Biopsy
• Diagnostic Interventional Catheterization
• Percutaneous Valve Replacement

Generally, most cardiac catheterization procedures are performed while the child is asleep. Often, sedative medications are given to make the patient more comfortable and relaxed. Other procedures may require general anesthesia that is provided and monitored by a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist.

Cardiac catheterization team members include:

Satinder Sandhu, M.D.