Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate.
Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner Expands Cardiovascular Care
KENNER – Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner(OMC – Kenner) has opened a second catheterization lab (cath lab), further expanding its capacity to serve cardiovascular patients in Jefferson and the River Parishes.
The expansion, which also includes extensive renovations to the hospital’s existing cath lab, will enhance OMC - Kenner’s ability to diagnose and treat a wide range of cardiovascular conditions locally through the John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute(JOHVI), and will help to meet the ever-growing need for innovative care.
A cath lab is a procedural hospital room where minimally invasive tests and procedures are performed to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. The procedures involve tiny, flexible tubes called catheters, which can be used as an alternative to surgery to access the heart and blood vessels.
OMC- Kenner’s cath labs, which now include new pre- and post- procedure space, offer the following:
• Cardiac coronary angiogram – a procedure that evaluates the blood vessels supplying the heart using catheters and x-ray dye
• Coronary stent placement – a procedure in which small metal scaffolds are placed within a blocked coronary artery to keep an artery open
• Peripheral angiogram – a procedure that evaluates the flow and patency of arteries in the upper and lower extremities; similar to a coronary angiogram
• Endovascular services – de-clot of hemodialysis access, vein ablations and abdominal aneurysm repairs
• Electrophysiology services – pacemaker implantation
The new cath lab at OMC – Kenner features a suite of comprehensive dose management tools, enabling physicians to continuously monitor radiation exposure to patients and adjust in real time during procedures. Following procedures, patients recover in a heart failure clinic area.
“At Ochsner, we are always looking for innovative ways to expand services to fit the growing needs of our community. Our talented team of providers, nurses and support staff are relentless about providing quality care to each and every patient we treat. Investing in a new cath lab further enhances our ability to provide high quality treatment options close to home for patients living in Kenner and the River Parishes,” said Zola N’Dandu, MD, interventional cardiologist and OMC- Kenner Cardiology Section Head.
OMC – Kenner offers a continuum of care for peripheral artery and coronary disease. Patients are cared for by an interdisciplinary team that includes general cardiology, interventional cardiology, limb salvage and amputation prevention. The opening of the this new cath lab is one of many investments Ochsner has made to expand cardiac care systemwide.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every four deaths results from heart disease, making it the leading cause of death for both men and women. Leading risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Louisiana, which ranks fifth in the nation for the highest death rate from cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends that heart attack symptoms be managed in less than 90 minutes. OMC- Kenner consistently outperforms the standard of care by averaging less than 60 minutes.
For more information about cardiology at Ochsner, visit www.ochsner.org/heart. To make an appointment with a cardiologist at OMC – Kenner, call 504-464-8588.
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About Ochsner Health System
Ochsner Health is Louisiana’s largest non-profit, academic, healthcare system. Driven by a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate, coordinated clinical and hospital patient care is provided across the region by Ochsner's 40 owned, managed and affiliated hospitals and specialty hospitals, and more than 100 health centers and urgent care centers. Ochsner is the #1 ranked hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report and is recognized as a “Best Hospital” across two specialty categories caring for patients from all 50 states and more than 70 countries worldwide each year. Ochsner Hospital for Children is the only facility in Louisiana to be recognized as a top 50 children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report for three consecutive years. Ochsner employs nearly 25,000 employees and over 4,500 employed and affiliated physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties and conducts more than 700 clinical research studies. Ochsner Health is proud to be a tobacco-free environment. For more information, please visit ochsner.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
