Basics of the Cath Lab: Resources for CVPs, Fellows, and the Cath Curious

Course Overview

This course is for heart team members who are new to the cardiac cath lab. You will find accessible content that you can use right away in your role caring for patients in the CCL. The course includes quizzes so that you can be confident you understood the information.

For those in medical training who are cath curious, you'll be introduced to key components of operating in a cath lab.

Program Outline

1. Introduction to Cath Lab

2. Pre-Procedure Patient Prep
Common Medications in the Cath Lab

3. Intro to Coronary Angiography
Diagnostic Catheter Overview, Common Catheters, and French Sizes
Review of Common Views for Native Coronaries
Radiation Safety

4. Intro to Hemodynamics
Right Heart Cath Tracings
Avoid Common Errors in Aortic and LV Pressure Tracings

5. Intro to Coronary PCI
What Is a PCI?
Anticoagulation
Guiding Catheters
Introduction to Coronary Wires
Introduction to Balloons and Stents

6. Post-Procedure Patient Care
Radial Hemostasis Band Management
Femoral Access Site Management
Manual Compression
Post Vascular Closure Device Use

7. Common Complications
Radial Hematoma
Femoral Hematoma
PCI Complications

Learning Objectives

At the end of this activity, participants should be able to:

List appropriate reasons for a patient to be referred to the cardiac cath lab.
Describe how to prepare patient for percutaneous coronary intervention
Distinguish typical and atypical hemodynamic readings on ECHO.
Compare radial and femoral hemostasis techniques

Authors

Chalak Berzingi, MD, FSCAI
Joanna Cannon, RCIS
Ashley D'armiento, BSN, CVRN-BC, ACNP, MSN-c
Tiffany Espinoza, RN, BSN
Kiersten Frenchu, MD
Janet Friant, APN
Nathan Hall, MD, FSCAI
Rajiv Jauhar, MD, FSCAI
Tara L. Jones, MD, PharmD, FSCAI

Saurabh Joshi, MD, FSCAI
Rohan Kalathiya, MD, FSCAI
Sahil Khera, MD, FSCAI
Brian O’Murchu, MD
Louai Razzouk, MD, FSCAI
Michael Templehof, MD, MBA, MSc, FSCAI
Aviral Vij, MD, FSCAI
Ryan M. Zewatsky, RTR(VI)(RCIS)

Acknowledgment of Commercial Support

This activity is supported by unrestricted educational grants from Abbott, Cardiovscular Systems, Inc., Chiesi, Merit Medical, Medtronic, and Shockwave Medical.

Accredited Continuing Education Information

Accreditation Statement
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation
SCAI designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful Completion
Watch the content, pass the post-test, and complete the evaluation to obtain credit.

Summary


Availability:	On-Demand
	Expires on Dec 19, 2026


Cost:	FREE


Credit Offered:	2.5 CME Credits 2.5 Participation Credits