Interventional (catheter-based) cardiology

Interventional cardiology refers to catheter-based treatments that repair or correct structural heart diseases, like coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and others.

Common treatments include angioplasty and stent insertion. Interventional treatments are considered to be minimally invasive because they require only small incisions and use catheters rather than open-heart procedures.

Catheterization laboratory

Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute®'s Catheterization Laboratory (cath lab) is located on the 5th floor of Abbott Northwestern Hospital. In the cath lab, the heart specialist inserts catheters (long, thin, tubes) into structures of the heart while watching on a screen that shows the inside of the heart.

For many patients who experience a cardiovascular emergency, the cath lab is where they will receive the life-saving care they need. Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute® has partnered with more than 30 community hospitals throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin to ensure patients are cared for and transported as efficiently as possible so that no matter where they are when a cardiovascular emergency occurs.

Society of Chest Pain Center accreditation