New Cardiac Catheterization Lab at San Martin Hospital Expands Cardiac Capabilities

Comprehensive cardiovascular X-ray lab features first-in-southern-Nevada equipment 

LAS VEGAS, November 29, 2023 –  Doctors at St. Rose Dominican's San Martin Hospital recently performed the first procedures in the hospital’s newly opened, state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab. The new facility debuts ceiling-mounted imaging technology able to provide doctors views from almost any angle, while using significantly lower amounts of radiation, which benefits both patients and medical professionals. 

Within this new facility, specially trained cardiologists and the St. Rose Dominican team of cardiology fellows, nurses and technicians will perform delicate, life-saving cardiac catheterization procedures.

“The new system at San Martin Hospital is the most advanced Cath Lab imaging system in Southern Nevada,” said Richard Miller, Senior Director of Cardiovascular Services for Dignity Health Nevada. “It has the flexibility to provide doctors increased visualization of cardiac anatomy by delivering imaging views from more angles. This advanced system has the added benefit of significant reductions in radiation levels to both patients and staff.”

The new Cath Lab at San Martin is outfitted with the Philips Azurion 7 C20 with FlexArm imaging system, a comprehensive cardiovascular X-ray lab used in a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The new lab has the ability to image and measure the interior of the coronary artery, allowing doctors to better determine the anatomy and degree of a coronary blockage.

Among the highlights of the new lab’s capabilities: 

• State-of-the-art, real‑time image processing
• C-arm rotational speeds up to 55 degrees/second 
• FlexArm providing 270- degree range of movement 
• Phillips technology enables excellent image quality at low-dose settings for patients of  any size
• Ceiling-mounted system which provides greater positioning freedom for medical teams, giving them the ability to perform more diverse procedures

Mr. Miller added, “This system outperforms anything we’ve ever had. It is the only Philips Azurion with FlexArm imaging system in Nevada. It is state-of-the-art, giving doctors seamless imaging head-to-toe, with better image quality. This is a major step forward, both for San Martin Hospital and for the St. Rose Dominican Cardiac Program in Nevada.”  

Cath Lab FAQ: 

What is Cardiac Catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization which is a procedure that helps cardiac surgeons or cardiologists diagnose and treat heart conditions. It is sometimes called heart catheterization, heart cath, or cardiac cath, which is performed in the cardiac catheterization lab. 

Doctors insert a catheter into an artery, usually in the wrist or groin, and using X-ray guidance will feed the catheter into the patient’s heart, injecting dye to make arteries and the heart show up better on X-rays and better track blood flows through the heart and blood vessels. 

When the catheter is in place, doctors can perform various tests and treatments by visualizing the blood vessels of the heart using a comprehensive cardiovascular imaging system.

What does Minimally Invasive mean? 

Cardiac Catheterization is minimally invasive, meaning patients recover more quickly and with less pain than other, more invasive, procedures. Cath lab intervention generally provide shorter procedure times. The system is designed to provide a wide range of viewing angles while allowing easy access to patients. The system’s processing speed and clarity of display reduces the procedure time for patients.

What types of procedures are performed in the Cath Lab?

Doctors order cath lab diagnostic procedures for heart attack, chest pain, heart failure, blood clots, coronary artery disease, heart valve problems, or heart biopsy. Cardiac catheterization can be used to evaluate the function of the heart, its valves, major blood vessels. 

Common cardiac catheterization procedures include: 

Cardiac Angiography - a method of photographing the heart allowing doctors to look for problems such as abnormal blood flow. Also referred to as a coronary angiogram.

• Permanent Pacemaker Implantation - surgery to treat irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias. A pacemaker is a small electronic device that helps the heart's electrical system by keeping the heart beating at the right pace. 
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention - also known as coronary angioplasty, is a procedure used to open clogged heart arteries, to restore blood flow to the heart.

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About Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican:

Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican recently celebrated 75 years in southern Nevada, marking the anniversary of the arrival of the seven Adrian Dominican Sisters who founded Rose de Lima Hospital on June 27, 1947. As Nevada’s only not-for-profit, faith-based health system, St. Rose Dominican is still guided by the vision and core values of the Adrian Dominican Sisters in all its endeavors. As the Henderson and Las Vegas communities grow, the St. Rose Dominican health system and its nearly 4,000 employees continue the Sisters’ mission of serving people in need. Dignity Health currently operates three acute care hospitals in southern Nevada and is a member of the multi-state Dignity Health network of nearly 10,000 physicians, 60,000 employees, 41 acute care hospitals, and 400-plus care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, and primary care clinics. For more information, visit our website at www.strosehospitals.org.