Cardiac Outpatient Procedures

Outpatient procedures are those procedures done on an outpatient basis within Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center.

MRI

A non-invasive procedure that produces a two-dimensional view of an internal organ or structure, especially the brain and spinal cord.

CT Scan

A type of imaging scan that shows the internal structure of a person's brain. In diagnosing dementia, CT scans can reveal tumors and small strokes in the brain.

Ultrasound Guided Biopsies

Biopsy procedure that uses an ultrasound imaging device to find an abnormal area of tissue and guide its removal for examination under a microscope.

Cardioversions

Cardioversion refers to the process of restoring the heart's normal rhythm by applying a controlled electric shock to the exterior of the chest. Abnormal heart rhythms are called arrhythmias or dysrhythmias. When the heart beats too fast, blood no longer circulates effectively in the body. Cardioversion is used to stop this abnormal beating so that the heart can begin its normal rhythm and pump more efficiently.

Endoscopy

Viewing the inside of a body cavity (eg, colon) with an endoscope, a device using flexible fiber optics.

Bronchoscopy

Visual examination of the bronchial passages of the lungs through the tube of an endoscope (usually a curved flexible tube containing fibers that carry light down the tube and project an enlarged image up the tube to the viewer) that is inserted into the upper lungs and can be used for extraction of material from the lungs.

Thoracentesis

When fluid has been identified in the lungs, the doctor inserts a needle into the lungs to withdraw a fluid sample for examination. This procedure may also be done to remove fluid if it's causing breathing difficulty.

Paracentesis

Draining off of excess fluid or an abnormal collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity by inserting a needle into the abdomen. Sometimes the fluid is sent to the laboratory to look for infection or cancer or help determine the reason for the excess fluid. The procedure is done using a local anesthesia.

Infusions

Introduction of a solution into the body through a vein for therapeutic purposes.

• Antibiotic Infusions
• Hydration Infusions
• Blood Transfusions – Blood transfusion is the taking of blood or blood-based products from one individual and inserting them into the circulatory system of another. It can be considered a form of organ transplant. Blood transfusions may treat medical conditions, such as massive blood loss due to trauma, surgery, shock and where the red cell producing mechanism (or some other normal and essential component) fails.

Cath Lab

A Cardiac Catheterization/Cath (sometimes known as a Coronary Angiogram) is a minimally invasive procedure for identifying possible problems with your Coronary Arteries, Heart Valves, and other heart related problems both mechanical and electrical. During a cath, a thin plastic tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood vessel in your groin or arm. The catheter is guided up toward your heart. A special dye is injected into the catheter so X-rays can show if you have any artery blockage or other heart problems. The Cardiac Catheterization Lab also performs Pacemaker Implants, Implantable Defibrillators, and Implantable Event Recorders.

Vascular Lab

The Vascular Lab is the only lab in the entire region that uses a combination of Fluoroscopy (continuous real time X-ray) digital subtraction and CT technology. This new technology allows us to perform 3D images of most blood vessels, organs, and the entire spinal process. Common procedures done in the vascular labs are angiograms, placing tubes or catheters in patients, shrinking or destroying tumors by cutting off their blood supply or in some cases infusing chemo-therapy drugs directly into the tumors, fixing varicose veins, numerous procedures for relieving pain and repairing problems to the spine, minimally invasive repair of Aortic Aneurysms, and repairing internal bleeding problems. Basically the Vascular Lab can perform most minimally invasive procedures.