Cardiac Catheterization Tech

CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION TECHNICIAN SERVICES
1. MAJOR DUTIES

Serves in a multi‑role (scrub, monitor, and circulator) capacity as a Cardiovascular Medical Instrument Technician and functions cooperatively as a member of the cardiovascular laboratory team, which performs diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as a service to physicians who directly supervise the procedures. The technician assists the physician(s) and team members during a variety of highly complex, potentially life‑threatening invasive cardiovascular procedures on stable and unstable patients throughout the lifespan continuum.

Participates with the physician in planning procedures, then initiates preparation for physician‑directed procedure and independently either makes recommendations about procedures or, in some situations, makes changes to procedures. Assists in identifying and selecting patient/procedure‑specific catheters, supplies, equipment, and contrast medium and volume, and then manipulates or changes supplies or instruments in order to meet the requirements of the procedure. Varies technique to accommodate patients condition and changes conventional methods to produce acceptable results.

Sets up sterile field and prepares heparinized saline solutions. Maintains aseptic technique, manipulates wires and catheters, anticipates catheter tip location, operates fluoroscopic single‑plane and bi‑plane x‑ray equipment and selects appropriate angulations and positions, x‑ray table and an image intensifier for optimal display of angiographic anatomy while assisting the physician throughout the following procedures:

• Selective vessel and heart chamber pressure recording
• Selective vessel and chamber blood sampling and/or shunt detection studies via oximetry
• Selective contrast angiography (aortic, coronary, left ventricle, peripheral vascular, pulmonary, and renal) via manual or power injection of radiopaque contrast media
• Angiojet, coronary rotational atherectomy
• Coronary intravascular ultrasound, angioplasty and stent implantation
• Foreign body retrieval from heart or great vessels
• Permanent pacemaker implantation and/or leadwire insertion
• Venous access device implantation
• Transvenous temporary pacing catheter insertion
• Thermodilution catheter insertion and cardiac output measurement
• Intra‑aortic balloon catheter insertion
• Endomyocardial biopsy
• Pericardiocentesis
• Drug response studies
• Electrophysiology studies
• Ablations
• Automatic implantable cardiac defibrillators
• Pharmaceutical or exercise stress angiography
• Intracoronary anticoagulant, thrombolytic, and/or nitrate administration
• Wound closure and dressing application
• Blood drawing for point‑of‑care testing such as blood coagulation timing and blood oximetry
• Hemostasis via manual compression, external hemostatic device application, or internal hemostatic device insertion

Operates an interactive computerized digital subtraction angiographic system in order to produce coronary and left ventricular graphic images, and to perform pulmonary, aortic, and peripheral arterial imaging. Coordinates a delicate balance of radiographic techniques (x‑ray factors), patient positioning, and computer‑assisted acquisition and display so as to provide optimal patient care in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Enters patient data and acquisition/procedure parameters through the computer keyboard.

Uses a variety of menu‑driven programs to display, redisplay, and manipulate images in real time to allow physicians optimal visualization of anatomy so they may determine adequacy of procedure or interventions performed. Performs post‑processing of images to include assessment of quantitative and qualitative coronary artery stenosis, left‑ventricular volumes, left ventricular wall motion, presence or absence of abnormal communication between chambers and many other available programs.

Stores data and images on one or more storage media (e.g., videotape, hard drive, compact disk, etc.). Reviews and/or records patient history and supporting clinical data before each of the procedures listed above. Uses electrophysiologic and angiographic monitors with interactive, menu‑driven programs to enter patient data…