Prairie Lakes Cath Lab Celebrates 15 Years of Life-Saving Services
May 8, 2022 marks 15 years since the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System Cardiac Catheterization Lab (Cath Lab) saw its first patient in 2007. Dr. Ivaldo Lunardi, Interventional Cardiologist, who established the Cardiology Program at Prairie Lakes, performed the first procedure. At the time, it was the first Cardiac Cath procedure performed without on-site surgical backup in South Dakota. It marked the beginning of advanced heart care and procedures available to our rural region.
The Prairie Lakes Cath Lab is a special area in the hospital where minimally invasive tests and advanced cardiac procedures are performed by Interventional Cardiologists to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease and conditions. The Cath Lab is equipped with state-of-the-art imaging technology used to view the arteries and check how well blood is flowing to and from the heart to diagnose and treat conditions in the arteries often without patients needing to undergo surgery.
On the Cath Lab’s ten-year anniversary in 2017, it saw around 800 patients and performed 1,300 procedures that year alone. Today, the Cath Lab has grown to a staff of seven people to include four nurses and three cardiovascular technicians. They oversee stress tests and perform PICC line insertions in addition to cardiology and vascular procedures. Cardiologists and staff are on call 24/7 to provide lifesaving care as well as scheduled procedures.
The Cath Lab was the start of offering specialty services and advanced procedures at Prairie Lakes. Since its inception, there have been many milestones and developments to further enhance the program.
2007 – Cath Lab Program started
2010 – Vascular program was added
2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 – Platinum Performance Achievement Award for Excellent Care provided to heart attack patients
2015 – Heart Failure Program started with the addition of the CardioMEM Device
2016 – Complex PCI for calcified lesions with the addition of Orbital Atherectomy Device
2018 – Upgraded Cath Lab table, C-ARM and technology
2022 – IVL Shockwave Therapy adapted as a new technology for calcified lesions
The Prairie Lakes Cardiology team continues to invest in providing high-quality, critical heart care available in Northeastern South Dakota. As Dr. Lunardi once said, "You can leave your heart in Watertown." For more information on cardiology services, please visit prairielakes.com or call 882-7777.