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In 1999, Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte opened the Pediatric Cardiac Cath Lab. It treats children - mainly those with congenital heart defects - prior to surgery. Of the various types of congenital heart disease that cause an inadequate amount of oxygen in the blood - including defective valves, abnormal holes between cardiac chambers and too-small chambers - transposition of the great arteries is most common. In this instance, the aorta and the pulmonary artery are switched.
The cardiac catheterization procedure uses a special fluid, visible by X-ray, to locate blockages in the arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.
The Pediatric Cardiac Cath Lab features $15 million worth of equipment which replaces traditional film technology with digital imaging. Because pediatric patients can tolerate less X-ray exposure than adults, they require this specialized equipment. The lab also features a parent waiting area and a recovery room that includes a TV and VCR.
For more information, call 800-55-HEART or 704-355-4005.
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