Long Island Jewish Medical Center opens additional catheterization lab with state-of-the-art equipment and additional patient recovery space.

The Cardiac Catheterization Labs at Long Island Jewish Medical Center have undergone tremendous change and growth over the past several years.LIJ features state of the art General Electric cath labs offering the latest in digital imaging technology.The latest additional cath lab is fully capable of both cardiac and peripheral vascular applications.

The latest coronary stents and devices are utilized to assure up to date care for our patients. The physicians and Cardiac Catheterization lab staff have been performing high quality cardiac catherization, coronary angiography and coronary interventions for many years.The latest release of the New York State Angioplasty statistics for the years 2000-2002 revealed that LIJ was one of three hospitals in New York State with a risk adjusted angioplasty mortality that was statistically lower than other hospitals in the state.

The LIJ cath lab is also unique in that a significant percentage of the angiogram and angioplasty procedures are performed through the wrist (radial approach).In contrast to the traditional groin (femoral approach) method, radial angiography allows patients increased mobility after the procedure with a lower risk of bleeding complications.

LIJ is the only hospital in the New York area performing more than 60% of cath procedures from the wrist. Patients can be discharged under 2 hours after a diagnostic procedure and can ambulate within minutes after a radial angiogram. 

The radial procedure is preferred by almost every patient who has had an angiogram from both the wrist and the groin.The physicians at LIJ have been dedicated to this approach since 1998 and although not every patient is eligible, most cases can be performed successfully from the wrist.