(Photo Courtesy of AHN)

(Pittsburgh, Pa.) Allegheny Health Network’s  Cardiovascular Institute  announced the opening of its newest cardiac catheterization laboratory at the new AHN Wexford Hospital, following approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The new cath lab at AHN Wexford will provide advanced heart care to patients throughout the growing northern region of Allegheny County as well as adjacent communities of Butler, Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties. With more than 60 years of experience among them, interventional cardiologists Samer Azouz, MD, Prudencio Lucero MD, and Yadavendra S. Rajawat MD, will provide service in this new catheterization lab.

Cardiac cath labs are specialized facilities where physicians perform state-of-the-art, minimally invasive cardiac procedures to diagnose and treat coronary artery disease. They are used for both elective and emergency procedures.

During a cardiac catherization procedure, interventional cardiologists insert a thin, hollow tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in either the wrist or groin and advance it under X-ray to the heart. This allows for measurement of pressures within the heart and determines how well the heart is pumping blood throughout the body. In addition, coronary angiography – which involves injecting contrast dye into the vascular system of the heart – produces images that identify blocked arteries which then may be treated with the placement of a stent.

“Following diagnostic testing, all kinds of coronary and peripheral vascular interventions can take place in this new facility which includes identifying blockages within the arteries, performing stent placement and balloon angioplasties as well as clot removal procedures in order to restore vital blood flow,” said Dr. Azouz. “Our ability to bring the full spectrum of these services to a community hospital can’t be overstated, especially in an emergency heart attack case when every second counts. Now, patients can access the highest quality, state-of-the-art care, closer to home.”

AHN Wexford opened its doors to first patients in late September. The 345,000-square-foot facility features a 22-bed emergency department, state-of-the-art operating rooms with minimally invasive robotic surgery capabilities, a labor & delivery unit, a hybrid OR for advanced surgical procedures, short-stay observation unit, adult intensive care unit, advanced diagnostic imaging, and more.

For more information on cardiovascular services at AHN Wexford, visit ahn.org.