VISN 7 News

Charleston VA Opens Second Digital Cardiac Cath Lab

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center announced the opening of its second cardiac catheterization lab, bringing ‘Virtual Histology’ that shows coronary artery plaque morphology to the Lowcountry for the first time earlier this month.

The lab, which is the next step in the Charleston facility’s quest to become a VA Cardiology Center of Excellence for the Southeast, features a specialized software which transforms Intra Vascular Ultra Sound (IVUS) images into color coded pictures of the vessels in the heart. These images show what type of plaque – hard or soft – is in the vessels, allowing cardiologists to plan the stenting procedure more accurately. IVUS is also used to check placement of stents after the procedure is completed. The ‘Virtual Histology’ images are also able to show plaques which are more likely to rupture and cause future heart attacks.

Annually the Charleston VA performs over 1,000 cardiac and peripheral catheterization procedures including diagnostic tests, pacemakers, defibrillators, balloon angioplasty, rotablations and stent implants. The additional lab and advanced technology will enable the facility to better meet the growing need for these procedures in an aging veteran population.

The Charleston VA’s Cardiac Cath labs also perform electrophysiological studies to map the electrical conductivity of the heart. These procedures are used both for diagnosis and correction of electrical arrhythmia by making new scars to re-map electrical pathways for the heart.