Cath Lab

A catheterization lab, commonly known as a cath lab, is an examination room in a hospital, clinic, or diagnostic centre where several types of tests and procedures like ablation, angiogram, angioplasty, implantation of pacemakers, etc. are performed. However, a cath lab is not an operation theatre. Heart surgeries like heart bypass operations are carried out in an operation theatre under general anaesthesia. Whereas the patients in a cath lab might be awake and will not be under general anaesthesia while the procedures are carried out. A cath lab is usually managed by a group of different specialists who will be led by a cardiologist.