Never be afraid to just ask them if you are unsure about how they like things set up/during the case!
Most drs prefer prefer the attachable lead shielding when going femoral (if shorter, usually not due to shielding blocking working area)
Some prefer 4 p/s as default for fluoro
fUn FaCtS
It's not a coincidence most pts experience an itchy nose in the cath lab! Fentanyl, like other opioids, can cause itching as a side effect, potentially in the nose 👃. This is because opioids can trigger an immune system response that affects mast cells, leading to the release of chemicals that cause itching and inflammation.
Constantina is another name for the accordian🪗 effect - when a catheter is advanced through a tortuous artery, it can straighten out some of the curves. This straightening can cause the artery to appear narrowed or stenosed on the angiogram, even though there is no actual blockage.
Laughter is good for the heart! It can reduce stress hormones and increase blood flow🤣
Takotsubo's (broken heart syndrome) got its name from a traditional trap made for octopuses 🐙, which has a similar shape to the left ventricle when it becomes ballooned and deformed due to temporary heart dysfunction, triggered by stress
You can track all flights here, including HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) transporting STEMI pts to us!
Review Questions
How do you turn on/off the machines?
What do you know about contrast?
What radiation protection do we use in cathlab?
What are the 3 key coronary arteries?
What do you do when the dose becomes too high?
What do you do if you accidentally selected the wrong pt name? How about on an after hours shift?
How do you call a code blue? What do you do when a pt starts arresting?
What is the access point for a PPM? Where are the leads inserted into?