BRMC Unveils Advanced Invasive Cardiac and Interventional Vascular Lab

Heart disease is one of our nation’s most common health problems – the leading cause of death for Americans age 35 and older. In an effort to help provide faster and more efficient cardiac care to northwestern Pennsylvania area residents, Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) today unveiled a newly renovated state-of-the-art cardiac and vascular catheterization lab.

BRMC will now be able to conduct minimally invasive procedures using the new system to treat a wide range of clinical problems including coronary artery disease – a leading cause of heart disorders in the U.S. These catheter-based procedures may reduce the risks and recovery time found in traditional surgical approaches. The benefits of catheter-based interventions include shorter hospital stays, reduced recovery time without the pain of a large incision, and less visible surgical scarring. These procedures can be performed on both the heart and peripheral blood vessels.

“The catheterization lab will allow our physicians to complete a variety of diagnostic procedures faster, and that means the patient is off the table and on their way to recovery and discharge sooner”, said Timothy J. Finan, president and CEO of Bradford Regional Medical Center.

Cardiac catheterization is used diagnostically for patients with heart and vascular disease. During a catheterization procedure, a thin, flexible tube, or catheter, is inserted into an artery or vein in the patient's arm or leg. The catheter is then gently moved further into the arteries or the heart. This technique is most often used to locate blockages or other problems by measuring the pressure and flow of blood in the heart and by capturing images of the arteries, called angiograms. It can be used as a diagnostic tool to determine what is wrong with a patient's cardiovascular system or it can also be used as a form of treatment for vascular disease.

This fully digital system enables physicians to capture and view detailed images of a patient’s coronary structure, thereby facilitating faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease. Additionally, the system:



· Exposes patients to less radiation during the procedures than some other systems

· Enables a physician to have better patient access during an exam due to the system’s compact design

· Provides outstanding image quality, with less distortion than older imaging technologies

· Enhances diagnostic confidence, which promotes better visualization during interventional procedures

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