In 2007, FCCI opened the first freestanding outpatient cardiac and peripheral vascular catheterization laboratory in Jacksonville, Florida. Since its inception, we have performed thousands of procedures in our cath lab with superior outcomes. The success of our first cath lab inspired us to open our second freestanding cath lab in Palatka, Florida in 2016. Our strive for excellence has earned us accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. for both facilities.
HISTORY OF CATHETERIZATION LABORATORY
Traditionally, all cardiac and peripheral vascular catheterizations were performed in hospitals. FCCI was the first in the region to offer catheterization procedures in an outpatient setting, reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients and providing access to a comfortable and convenient setting. Moreover, we have been able to offer patients the latest advancements in medicine including:
- The first in Florida, in addition to the University of Florida at Gainesville, and the second nationally to offer the new drug eluting stents in the legs to reduce recurrent blockages in 2013
- The first outpatient catheterization laboratory team to perform complex procedures transmitted via satellite to national conferences in efforts to share new cutting edge techniques for better patient outcomes in 2010
- The first in Northeast Florida to perform pedal access for chronic limb ischemia in 2008
CATHETERIZATION
A catheterization procedure allows your doctor to see the condition of your heart, extremities, kidneys, and other organs and arteries, as well as detect the presence of disease or blockages. The procedure uses a thin, flexible tube inserted into an artery in the groin or wrist and special X-RAY equipment to view its path.
TYPES OF PROCEDURES
FCCI’s Catheterization Laboratory is nationally recognized as a leader in using the latest technologies in the treatment of patients with arterial disease and blockages. We are proud of our history in preventing amputations.
Allows the doctor to see the vasculature of the heart for the treatment of coronary artery disease, or CAD.
Allows the doctor to see the vasculature of the head and neck for the treatment and prevention of stroke.
Allows the doctor to see the vasculature of the legs and arms for the treatment of peripheral artery disease, or PAD.
Allows the doctor to treat severe PAD by means of using athrectomy devices, balloons, and/or stents. Re-establishing the arterial blood flow to the patient’s extremities is necessary for the treatment of non-healing wounds, discomfort when walking, cramping, and swelling or discolorization. Amputation should always be the last resort.
Dialysis patients routinely need their grafts or fistulas un-clogged to maintain adequate filtration during the dialysis procedure. We are proud providers of such services on an outpatient basis.
Venous filters, or Inferior Vena Cava (IVF), are placed into patients who are at risk of venous clots in the legs breaking loose and causing a stroke or pulmonary embolism.
PICC lines are for patients who will need long term IV access for antibiotic, medical, or chemo treatments. A long IV is placed in the upper arm that is designed to deliver the treatment in the central venous system and can safely stay in place for an extended period of time.
A therapy system designed to treat calcified leg artery blockages. It is intended for lithotripsy-enhanced balloon dilatation of lesions, including calcified lesions, in the peripheral vasculature, including the iliac, femoral, ilio-femoral, popliteal, infra-popliteal, and renal arteries.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Before Your Procedure:
- If your procedure starts before noon, please do not eat or drink anything after midnight. If your procedure is to start in the afternoon, a “light” breakfast is allowed.
- It is OK to take your daily medications with sips of water, except for patients with diabetes.
Prcocedure:
- The procedure start time is an estimated time based on the types of cases scheduled for that day. Unfortunately, some cases may take longer than expected due to the severity of a patient’s condition. Procedures last between 1-3 hours.
- Most procedures requires only a tiny incision in the wrist or groin.
After Your Procedure:
- Expect a recovery period in one of our comfortable private rooms for 1-5 hours. The length of your recovery period is dictated by the complexity of your procedure.
- Follow-up testing may be required to monitor and/or prevent future symptoms.
