Medical City Children’s Hospital opens new cardiac cath lab

Dallas, TX – Expanded space for care teams, the latest technologies for treating complex heart conditions and large pre- and post-operative rooms that allow parents to be with their children immediately before and after procedures are features of a new cardiac catheterization lab that recently opened at Medical City Children’s Hospital.

The $8.7 million unit spans more than 14,000 square feet and is part of a major expansion of the hospital’s Congenital Heart Center. The overall project, which will include opening a new cardiac intensive care unit next year, is a $33-million investment in the program. 

“This significant investment underscores our commitment to equipping our care teams with the latest technology to enhance patient outcomes and elevate the standard of care.,” says Skyler Reed, CEO, Medical City Children’s Hospital. “Our advanced heart program is part of the systems of care that we provide under one roof for various complex pediatric medical conditions.”

In a cardiac catheterization laboratory, or "Cath lab," interventional cardiologists use a thin, flexible tube called a catheter to navigate through blood vessels to the heart. This allows them to diagnose and evaluate heart conditions as well as treat blockages or narrowing within blood vessels, correct structural problems such as defects or holes within the heart, and place new heart valves. Other specialists known as electrophysiologists, or heart rhythm experts, diagnose and fix irregular cardiac rhythms in children and implant devices, such as pacemakers or defibrillators, to help the heart work more effectively.

The new Medical City Children’s Hospital cath lab includes:

• Three new leading-edge labs for the treatment of children with congenital heart disease or abnormal heart rhythms. The labs can also be converted to operating rooms for emergency bypass or other hybrid (combined surgical and interventional) procedures if needed.
• Specialized lighting and audio-visual technology to allow for a soothing, child-friendly environment.
• Low-dose radiation diagnostics to limit radiation exposure.
• A central monitoring station with large monitors to enable comprehensive views of patients in pre- and post-operative beds and procedure rooms.

Learn more about advanced pediatric cardiology at Medical City Children’s Hospital.