ABSTRACT
Introduction What would Werner Forsmann say about what has happened since that fateful day, so long ago, when he performed the first cardiac catheterization on himself? Of course, he never actually reached his heart with the catheter the first time and he was banished from his promising career as a young surgeon. However, his spirit exemplifies what has now become the modern day interventional cardiologist. Since there is a distinction between the cardiologist trained to treat adults with predominant coronary artery and acquired cardiac disease and those cardiologists specially trained to manage congenital heart disease, the same can be said for the cardiac catheterization laboratories in which these patients are treated. For the purpose of this chapter, the design, equipment required, necessary inventory, and personnel requirements for the modern day lab dedicated to advanced transcatheter therapy for the smallest newborn to the largest adult with complex congenital heart disease will be discussed. The author readily acknowledges the biases instilled in him by his mentor and idol, Charles E (Chuck) Mullins, MD, who has taught many of the congenital heart interventionalists across the globe (Figure 1.1a and b).
