Lesson 1History review focused on cardiovascular risk factors, medications, allergies, and last oral intakeCovers a targeted pre-procedure history for cath lab needs, highlighting heart risk factors, current and recent meds, allergies, and exact timing and type of last meal to guide safety and sedation plans.
Structured cardiovascular risk factor reviewDocumenting medication timing and last dosesClarifying drug, food, and contrast allergiesDetermining last oral intake and NPO statusIdentifying red flags requiring physician reviewLesson 2IV access strategies: peripheral vs central, sizes for contrast/medication administration, confirming patencyExplains choosing peripheral or central IV access, right catheter sizes for contrast and meds, ways to check flow, and fixing issues like infiltration, spasm, or poor flow before and during cath lab work.
Choosing peripheral versus central venous accessGauge selection for contrast and drug deliveryTechniques to secure and label IV linesAssessing patency, blood return, and flowManaging infiltration, extravasation, or spasmLesson 3Patient identification protocols and two-person verification methods (ID band, verbal confirmation, chart cross-check)Details rules and safety steps for correct patient ID, using wristbands and verbal checks, two-person verification processes, and sorting out mismatches between wristband, chart, and digital records before any invasive action.
Required identifiers for cath lab patientsVerbal ID checks with cognitively impaired patientsTwo‑person verification workflow at procedure startReconciling ID band, chart, and EMR dataDocumenting and escalating ID discrepanciesLesson 4Pre-procedure fasting rules, premedication (analgesia, anxiolytics), and allergy prophylaxis protocols (contrast/iodine allergy)Looks at fasting times for solids and liquids, safe premeds like painkillers and calmers, and proven allergy prevention for contrast or iodine issues, covering screening, risk levels, and records.
Standard NPO times for solids and clear fluidsPremedication choices and timing in cath labScreening for prior contrast or iodine reactionsSteroid and antihistamine premedication regimensManaging high‑risk allergy or anaphylaxis historyLesson 5Medication reconciliation and peri-procedural medication management (antiplatelets, anticoagulants, antihypertensives, nitrates, diabetic meds)Focuses on proper med checks, spotting high-risk drugs, and planning around-procedure handling of blood thinners, clot preventers, blood pressure meds, nitrates, and diabetes drugs to balance bleeding, clot, and blood flow risks.
Collecting a complete pre‑procedure drug listManaging dual antiplatelet therapy before PCIHandling warfarin and direct oral anticoagulantsAdjusting antihypertensives and nitrates safelyPeri‑procedural management of diabetic agentsLesson 6Assessing and optimizing comorbidities relevant to PCI: hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney diseaseReviews checking high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney issues before PCI, including vitals, blood sugar, kidney function, and ways to stabilise blood pressure, sugar, and kidney protection to cut procedure risks.
Pre‑procedure blood pressure assessment targetsGlycemic control and hypoglycemia preventionEvaluating renal function and eGFR thresholdsHydration and contrast minimization strategiesWhen to delay PCI for comorbidity optimizationLesson 7Consent verification, documentation, and handling questions about risks and benefitsCovers legal and ethical sides of informed consent, confirming it's valid and full, accurate records, and answering patient queries on risks, benefits, and options in simple terms.
Elements of valid informed consentChecking form completeness and signaturesAssessing patient capacity and surrogatesExplaining common cath lab risks and benefitsDocumenting questions and provided answersLesson 8Communication techniques to reduce anxiety and provide brief procedural explanations in lay termsDescribes patient-focused talk to ease worry, building trust, simple explanations, checking understanding, and tackling common fears about pain, sedation, and results in the cath lab.
Establishing rapport on first patient contactUsing lay terms to explain PCI and angiographySetting expectations about pain and sedationResponding to common fears and misconceptionsTeach‑back methods to confirm understandingLesson 9Interpreting pre-procedure labs and investigations relevant to cath lab (CBC, electrolytes, creatinine/eGFR, coagulation panel, troponin, ECG)Explains reading key pre-procedure tests like full blood count, salts, creatinine and kidney function, clotting, heart damage markers, and heart tracing, and how odd results affect timing, access, and blood thinning.
CBC parameters relevant to bleeding riskElectrolyte abnormalities affecting arrhythmiasCreatinine, eGFR, and contrast risk assessmentCoagulation panel and anticoagulation planningECG and troponin in acute coronary syndromes
