Building an advanced cardiac catheterization laboratory for congenital heart disease
- September 30 2025
- 3 min read
What's the ideal cath lab? That is a question that many congenital interventional cardiologists ask themselves when the opportunity to help design a new cath lab arises. That was the challenge the Children's Hospital Colorado faced when building a new cardiac catheterization lab for congenital heart disease (CHD): how to create a space that could serve the most delicate patients—from newborns to adults—with precision, safety, and adaptability. Dr. Jenny E. Zablah explains the process and what it took to create a lab that not only meets today's needs but is future-proof [1].
At-a-glance:
- Partner
- Dr. Jenny E. Zablah, MD, FSCAI, FACC, FPICS, FAAP, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Challenge
- How to create a cath lab tailored to congenital heart disease patients of all ages
- Solution
- 3 cath labs with Philips Azurion systems that adapt to each cath lab room
- Results
- Cath labs that balance scientific precision and clinical insights, aimed at optimizing procedural efficacy and patient outcomes, particularly for those with CHD.
Cath Lab 1 – Philips Azurion 7 B12/12 (photo courtesy of Children’s Hospital
Colorado)
Creating cath labs around the needs of Children's Hospital Colorado
The Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC) is a top-ranked center for cardiology and heart surgery, as ranked by US News & World Report. CHC performs more than 1,100 cath/EP procedures and over 700 congenital heart surgeries each year. The hospital also hosts over 20,000 clinic visits and performs more than 25,000 echocardiograms annually. Patients range from premature infants to adults with complex anatomy.
When Dr. Jenny E. Zablah was asked to help design a cath lab for CHC, she knew she had a big task ahead: "Designing that new cath lab is not without its challenges, requiring us to navigate regulatory requirements, budget constraints, and logistical complexities without compromising on quality or patient safety."
With that privilege comes the responsibility of making decisions that will shape the care patients will receive for the next 10 to 15 years.
Dr. Jenny E. Zablah
Congenital Interventional Cardiologist
Children's Hospital Colorado
Supporting Children's Hospital Colorado with advanced interventional imaging technologies
Establishing partnerships is crucial, particularly when developing cath labs for CHD. And with Philips' advanced interventional imaging technologies, the Children’s Hospital Colorado built three cath labs, each with its own characteristics, using the following Philips solutions:
- Hybrid Cath Lab/OR: Equipped with the Philips Azurion 7 M20 with FlexArm, offering 270° C-arm rotation and ceiling-mounted flexibility to keep anesthesia zones clear.
- Biplane Imaging: The Azurion 7 B12/12 system with smaller detectors enables high-quality imaging for small patients and supports 3D rotational angiography (3DRA).
- Fusion Imaging Tools: Philips SmartCT, VesselNavigator, HeartNavigator, and EchoNavigator allow real-time guidance by overlaying CT, MR, and echo data with live fluoroscopy.
- Smart Workspaces: FlexVision and FlexSpot interfaces streamline control and visualization, reducing clutter and improving workflow.
Hybrid Cath Lab/OR – Philips Azurion 7 M20 with FlexArm (photo courtesy of Children’s Hospital Colorado)
Results: balancing science and clinical insights in cath lab design
The Azurion-powered cath labs have transformed the Children's Hospital Colorado's interventional cardiology program:
- Radiation exposure: Personalized fluoroscopy settings that target the specific needs of Children's Hospital Colorado, and optimize radiation dose for patient and staff.
- Tailored imaging protocals: 3DRA protocols tailored specifically for CHD using the Philips systems. Aimed to achieve optimal image quality and serve as a blueprint for other institutions interested in implementing similar technologies, providing guidance on utilizing vendor-specific equipment effectively.
- Patient Education: This initiative has enabled the creation of patient-specific anatomical 3D printed models using CTA, MRI, or 3DRA images [2], helping educate patients both pre- and post-procedure.
We strive not only to create functional spaces but also to cultivate environments that inspire collaboration, innovation, and, above all, superior patient care.
Dr. Jenny E. Zablah
Congenital Interventional Cardiologist
Children's Hospital Colorado
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Footnotes
- Published case study: Building an Advanced Cath Lab for CHD by Jenny E. Zablah, MD, FSCAI, FACC, FPICS, FAAP published in the Congenital Cardiology Today, volume 22, issue 12, Dec 2024
- Jenny E. Zablah, Salvador A. Rodriguez, Nicholas Jacobson, Gareth J. Morgan. Rapid prototyping airway and vascular models from 3D rotational angiography: Beans to cup 3D printing, Progress in Pediatric Cardiology, Volume 63, 2021, 101350, ISSN 1058-9813, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppedcard.2021.101350.
Disclaimer
Results are specific to the institution where they were obtained and may not reflect the results achievable at other institutions. Results in other cases may vary.