What is a Cardiac Cath Lab?
The cardiac catheterization laboratory, or Cath Lab, is a unit at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, where cardiologists perform minimally invasive heart and vascular procedures to diagnose and treat cardiac and peripheral vascular diseases. A variety of heart and vascular conditions are diagnosed and treated in our cath lab, including myocardial infarction (heart attack), angina (chest pain), congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs) and peripheral vascular disease (blockages of arteries in the legs, arms, kidneys or neck).
“Our cath lab consists of an experienced team of interventional cardiologists, radiologic technicians, and specialized nurses, along with advanced technology for the diagnosis of a wide range of cardiac disorders,” says Justin Fox, MD, a board-certified cardiologist and interventional cardiologist, Chair of the Department of Cardiology at RWJUH Hamilton, and member of Hamilton Cardiology Associates. “”In my time here in Hamilton, I’m proud of the ways my colleagues and I have advanced the care of our patients in the cath lab. We have specialized in performing procedures through the wrist (radial artery) at rates higher than other competing hospitals. We introduced the interventional treatment of pulmonary embolism and carotid artery stenosis. And we have consistently met and exceeded our benchmarks for quality and safety.”
What Types of Procedures Are Performed in a Cath Lab?
Cath lab procedures can include but are not limited to:
- Coronary Angiography to visualize the coronary arteries and assess for blockage
- Angioplasty, also known as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a minimally invasive procedure that opens blocked or narrowed coronary arteries in the heart.
- Carotid stenting to clear blockages in the carotid artery using a stent to keep it open.
- Peripheral vascular intervention procedures to open blocked arteries in areas other than the heart, such as the abdomen, neck, arms or legs.
Heart and Vascular Care Close to Home
In 2022, RWJUH Hamilton achieved approval from the New Jersey Department of Health to perform elective, or non-emergent, angioplasty procedures, enabling residents of Mercer County and central New Jersey to receive premier quality elective cardiac procedures in a comfortable setting close to home.
And in January of 2025, RWJUH Hamilton is ushering in a new era of heart and vascular services with a new cath lab. “Our new 5,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art cath lab will transform how we provide cardiac and vascular care and will provide our community with even faster, safer, and more convenient care,” says Lisa Breza, Chief Administrative Officer at RWJUH Hamilton. “A new cath lab means we can help more patients in need of care.”
RWJUH Hamilton’s heart and vascular services’ multidisciplinary, integrated, and patient-centric approach to care delivery provides patients with a network of comprehensive cardiovascular and thoracic care options, produces results that exceed national quality benchmarks, features the latest technology and innovative trials, and ensures the best team of clinicians will be by your side.
Choosing RWJUH Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, brings nationally-renowned care close to home through New Jersey’s most complete network of easily accessible hospitals, centers and providers. No matter what a person’s heart may need, it’s the right place at RWJBarnabas Health, a network that handles all aspects of cardiac health.
For more information visit rwjbh.org.