Our Services

Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Description of Services

The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is a modern, technologically advanced facility where approximately 600 catheterization procedures are performed each year. The lab equipment provides excellent imaging with a minimal amount of X-ray exposure for patients and medical personnel.

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Performs approximately 600 catheterization procedures each year •
Performs more than 150 interventional catheterizations each year •
Performs complete diagnostic and therapeutic electrophysiologic studies, including radio frequency ablations

Catheterization procedures performed in the lab include:

Surveillance biopsies for heart transplant recipients
Diagnostic studies for children with complex congenital anomalies
Therapeutic or interventional catheterizations during which treatment is provided to the child by means of special catheter techniques

About 150 interventional catheterizations are performed each year, including:

Balloon valvuloplasties for stenotic valves
Balloon angioplasties for stenotic vessels, such as pulmonary arteries, coarctation of aorta, systemic veins and pulmonary veins
Placement of intravascular stents
Coil embolization of the patent ductus arteriosus, collateral vessels and coronary fistulas
Device closure of the patent ductus arteriosus and intracardiac defects such as ASD, PFO or VSD
Radiofrequency perforation of occluded cardiac valves

Complete diagnostic and therapeutic electrophysiologic studies, including radio frequency ablations, also are performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.