Cathlab

A cardiac catheterization lab, also known as a “cardiac cath lab,” is a special hospital room where doctors perform minimally invasive tests and procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. The procedures performed in a cardiac cath lab almost always involve tiny, flexible tubes, called catheters, which can be use instead of surgery, to access the heart and blood vessels. A cath lab has special imaging equipment used to see the arteries and check how well blood is flowing to and from the heart. This information helps the care team to diagnose and treat blockages and other problems in the arteries.

Who Works in a Cath Lab?

Interventional cardiologists are heart doctors who specialize in treating cardiovascular disease and who have had one to two years of education and training specifically in the use of catheters to perform cardiovascular procedures. These procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting, are performed by guiding tools through the body’s arteries. For many patients, these minimally invasive interventional procedures are an appropriate alternative to surgery.

Cath lab nurses and technologists are also important members of the care team during interventional procedures in the cath lab. These nurses are closely involved in your care from the time you arrive for your procedure, while technologists assist the interventional cardiologist with the procedure. Together, the cath lab nurses and technologists monitor your condition to identify changes that may need immediate attention, watch the cath lab monitors that display your heart rhythm and rate, notify the physician if they observe changes.

Angiography 

Angiography is done in a Naimat Begum Hamdard University Hospital X-ray or radiology department. It usually takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours, and you can usually go home the same day.

Preparing for angiography

You may be asked to attend a hospital appointment to check you can have angiography.

This may involve:

*Being asked about your medical history, including if you have any allergies

*Being asked about any medicine you’re taking – you’ll be told if you need to stop taking it before the test

*Having tests to check your general health, including a physical examination and blood test

*Discussing the procedure, including what it involves, what the risks are, what you need to do before the test and whether you’d like to have a sedative on the day to help you relax

How can you prepare for the test

*You’ll usually be awake, but general anaesthetic (where you’re asleep) may be used for young children

*A small cut is made in the skin over 1 of your arteries, usually near your groin or wrist – local anaesthetic is used to numb the area so it does not hurt

*A long, thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into the artery and is carefully guided to the area being examined – you may feel some pushing and pulling when this is done, but it should not be painful

*A special dye (contrast agent) is injected through the catheter – you may feel warm, flushed and as though you need to pee for a few seconds after this is done

*A series of X-rays are taken as the dye flows through your blood vessels

Angioplasty

An angioplasty is a procedure that opens up blocked blood vessels without surgery. A specially trained doctor, the interventional radiologist, performs this procedure in the radiology department. During the procedure, the interventional radiologist places a catheter (a small tube) into your narrowed artery. There is a balloon on the end of the catheter. When the balloon is in the area of the blockage, the doctor inflates the balloon. Inflating the balloon stretches out the artery, improving blood flow through the area. The interventional radiologist uses X-rays and contrast (X-ray dye) to help guide the catheter into the correct area for the angioplasty.

How do I prepare for my angioplasty?

If you are already an inpatient, your nurse and doctors will give you instructions on how to prepare for your angioplasty. If you are being admitted to the hospital on the morning of your angioplasty or if you are having your procedure done as an outpatient – follow these instructions unless your doctor specifies otherwise:

*Eating: Do not eat any solid food for 6 hours prior to your procedure, you may have *clear liquids up to 2 hours prior to the procedure. *Clear liquids: water , apple juice, tea. Orange juice is not a clear liquid

*Medications: Most people should continue to take their prescribed medications. If you are diabetic and are taking Glucophage, Glucovance or Avandamet you must not take the medication for two days after the examination. Also you must have a blood test to check your kidney function before restarting the above medications. Ask your physician for instructions. If you are a diabetic and taking insulin, you should ask your physician for specific instructions regarding the dosages for the day of your examination. If you are taking Coumadin or other medications to thin your blood, you must tell your doctor so that it can be stopped. Bring all your medications with you.

*Allergies: If you are allergic to contrast (X-ray dye) or iodine, let your doctor know as soon as possible. Let the interventional radiologist know about your allergy a few days before your angioplasty. Your doctors can then plan to take special precautions during the procedure.

*Smoking: Do not smoke for at least 24 hours before your angioplasty.

Ambulance

The primary role of all ambulance services is emergency pre-hospital medical care, although they generally provide both emergency response and patient transfer on behalf of the health sector. They provide easy access to health services, particularly out of hours, and contribute significantly to telephone triage and telephone health services through sophisticated communications infrastructure. In recent times it has become apparent that increasing health system pressures cannot be resolved only by adding resources, but must also be addressed with new methods of service delivery.

The ambulance service is ideally placed to be part of the first line in the continuum of health care, and can significantly contribute to ‘treat and transfer’ or ‘treat and leave’ programs. If ambulance services can develop towards an out-of-hospital, clinical care service rather than merely pre-hospital clinical care, they could substantially add to functionality of the health system. This could be through more efficient transfer of patient information; more efficient movement of patients; an ambulance service with a public service – rather than profit driven – philosophy; and patient treatment regimes consistent with the broader health system.

The service

Ambulance services are the primary providers of a 24/7 response to medical and trauma related emergencies. They provide a disciplined and organised system, allowing a timely response of appropriately qualified health care workers – often to potential or confirmed medical emergencies. Although medical retrieval teams are provided by the major trauma centres, coordination of the team and rescue helicopter is provided by the ambulance communications centre, and also crewed in most instances with intensive care paramedics.

Ambulance services provide the equipment, expertise and experience in the emergency intervention, assessment, management and transport of patients in a variety of controlled, uncontrolled, and disaster environments. Whilst a wide variety of both professional and non-professional people can provide individual aspects of this service to varying levels, ambulance services are in the best position to deliver these services on the whole. In addition, modern ambulance services operate state of the art, 24/7 communication centres with experienced and highly trained telephonists, call takers, despatchers and clinicians. This makes them ideally suited to co-ordinate the ad-hoc crew requests being placed on the health system. In doing so, they can co-ordinate the response of the health system to ensure the right clinical/medical resources are provided to the right patient within the right timeframe for their medical needs.

THE MEDICAL PHYSIOTHERAPY

Department of Physiotherapy is a model of excellence by providing patient-centered care through evidence based practice, education and research. We promote health and wellness in the continuum of care by providing positive support and team oriented environment for patients, staff and referring physicians.

Physiotherapy department offer services in the areas of:

Occupational Therapy
Out-patient Department
In-Patient Services
Women’s Health and Wellness
Neurological Rehabilitation
Pediatric Rehabilitation
Lymphatic Drainage
Hydrotherapy
LSVT Big
Physiotherapy Department treats clients who are suffering from illnesses or injuries with specialized therapies to restore function and improve independence as quickly and safely. Physical therapy is based on comprehensive assessment of client’s condition and need. We also provide customized treatment that incorporates both physical and emotional aspects of rehabilitation. We pride on meeting client needs and provide respect and concern to their families thus improving quality of life.

Laboratory

The Clinical laboratory of Naimat Begum Hamdard University Hospital utilizes samples of fluids or tissues from patients to identify evidence of disease or medical conditions. The space is organized into divisions such as anatomic pathology, clinical chemistry, hematology, genetics, microbiology, phlebotomy, and the blood bank. We also have a reproductive biology testing division or a blood donor center that may or may not fall under the laboratory. Each section of the laboratory has specialized equipment and analyzers to conduct tests on blood and other specimens.

Technology includes general equipment like microscopes, centrifuges, slide strainers, heaters, incubators, shakers, and tissue preparation devices. Specialty equipment can include apheresis machines, chemistry analyzers, hematology analyzers, electron microscopes, cell counters, and automated specimen processing lines. Many devices are highly complex and automated, processing samples, adding reagents, and making measurements in complex ways. Most laboratory instruments interface with a laboratory information system that receives the test results and sends them to the patient’s medical record.

Ultrasound (Sonography)
Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body.

Patient Safety Tips Prior to a Diagnostic Exam in Radiology

*Please let us know if you have any allergies or adverse reactions to medications.

*Please leave your valuables at home or in your room in the hospital.

*Please let us now if you need interpreting services, this can be arranged for you.

*Late arrival policy: If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment there is a possibility you may not be seen for your examination. Being seen for your appointment will be left to the discretion of your provider based on the nature of your concern and the schedule of the provider.

Preparation for the Exam

*The technologist will verify your identification and exam requested.

*The preparation for this test will depend on the type of ultrasound procedure your doctor has ordered.

*Some preparations include drinking a quart of water before the test to obtain better images. Your doctor will instruct you.

*If you are having a biopsy, you will be asked to not eat or drink anything past midnight the night before the exam. Your doctor will instruct you.

During the Exam

*The duration of the exam will vary, but the average is about 30-60 minutes.

*The technologist will position you on the exam table, and give you instructions.

*You will have the opportunity to ask the technologists questions.
A small amount of water-soluble gel is applied to the skin over the area to be examined.

*A hand-held instrument is placed against the gel on your body. This instrument will be moved across the area being examined.

After the Exam

If you are going home, you may resume normal activities.

X-RAYS

X rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that can penetrate or pass through the human body and produce shadow-like images of bones and some organs. The images can reveal signs of disease and injury.

X rays are used in medicine in procedures such as:

*Radiography, which produces a still X ray image;

*Fluoroscopy, which enables the observation of motion within the body and certain diagnostic and treatment procedures;

*Computed tomography, which produces more detailed still images.