Patients with acute and chronic heart diseases now can get potentially lifesaving diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures in Auburn Regional Medical Center's (ARMC) new dedicated cardiac catheterization laboratory. The lab includes a large, spacious procedure room and new cardiac technology called the Toshiba Infinix-i.

"At ARMC, we continually acquire innovative technology and add new services to stay at the forefront of cardiac care," says Robert Middleton, M.D., Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. "Our new high-definition, flat-panel system provides a very sophisticated level of services to patients who have heart or valvular disease or who have shortness of breath, chest pain, a slow heart rate, loss of consciousness and other cardiac symptoms."

The new system has a variety of features that make it easier for doctors to perform procedures and improve patient safety and comfort. For example, the system:

• Produces very high quality, uniform and distortion-free digital images that give doctors more detailed and complete views of the heart.
• Has a multi-access positioner that gives doctors extensive views of patients' bodies without repositioning them.
• Uses quiet X-ray technology that makes procedures more comfortable for patients.
• Uses table-side programmable fluoroscopy technology that exposes patients and staff to less radiation.
• Has a greater weight capacity so doctors can perform procedures on heavier patients weighing up to 450 pounds.

Doctors perform elective coronary angiographies, cardiac hemodynamic measurements and pacemaker implants in the new lab. They also offer emergency interventional services, including: balloon angioplasties, stenting procedures, intracoronary thrombolysis and clot removal.

"It's essential to have advanced equipment and a well-designed lab to properly diagnose and treat patients with heart disease, and that's what we have at ARMC," says James Wagner, M.D., Chief of Staff and a cardiologist. "This is the best lab I've ever worked in. That's great news for patients with heart problems because they now have an experienced cardiac team and an exceptional cardiac cath lab right in their neighborhood."

If you need a cardiac procedure, ask your doctor about scheduling your procedure at ARMC.

To learn more about cardiac procedures, such as coronary angiography and pacemaker implants, please visit www.auburnregional.com and click on Health Information in the left column. Under Library on the left side of the next page, click on Surgeries & Procedures, then select A and scroll down to Angiography, Coronary or select P and scroll down to Pacemakers.

202 North Division St., Auburn, WA 98001 (253) 833-7711, FAX: (253) 939-2376