Offsite anesthesiology in the cardiac catheterization lab.
OBJECTIVE
The cardiac catheterization lab has concerns for both patient care and for safety. As the cardiac catheterization lab continues to evolve, the demand for anesthesia services will certainly increase. The role of the anesthesiologist in the cardiac catheterization lab must be defined in this changing environment.


RESULTS
Procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab are more complex, take longer, and involve higher acuity patients. Many of these cases require general anesthesia rather than sedation, and require management of unstable hemodynamics. Knowledge of echocardiography and fluoroscopy is beneficial. Anesthesiologists should be active in developing sedation and practice management guidelines. Radiation exposure and safety is an important concern.


CONCLUSIONS
The anesthesiologist is becoming an integral part of the cardiac catheterization lab team, and an important element in maintaining a high level of patient care with minimal complications in the evolving modern day cardiac catheterization lab.
Shook
Douglas C
DC
Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA. dshook@partners.org
Gross
Wendy
W
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D000776:Anesthesiology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002309:Cardiology; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control