Intervention cardiology encompasses all invasive procedures in cardiology with the therpeutical aim.PTCA is invasive procedure, firstly done by Grunzig in 1977, where catheter is introduced into the stenosed coronary arteries leading to the expansion of their lumen.The role of the scrub nurse in such intervention is:

(i) to prepare the catheterization laboratory,

(ii) to prepare necessary material and equipment, and

(iii) to prepare the patient The scrub nurse assisting the operator should be sterile while another one who is present in the laboratory during the procedure should be taking care of the additional material that might be required and pressure control.

(i) the catheterization laboratory should be inspected on daily basis by the nurses and radiology technicians verifying the correct functioning of the defibrillator,pace-maker, anaesthesiology equipment as well as the supplies and material wich will be required. (

ii) supplies often needed during the procedure include punction needle, guide and sheath, guide wire, guiding catheters, balloon dilation catheter, stent, indeflator.

(iii) the patient should be washed and cleaned according to the principles of antisepsis. He comes from the clinic with already emptied bladder, placed iv canula, shaved inguinal area, measured blood pressure and heart rate, body height and weight, ECG, and given premedication. In our laboratory 56 PTCA procedures have been performed in the periodbetween June 27 and March 26.2001. We proved that the role of the scrub nurse has been important for providing the secure conditions during the PTCA as well as for the safety of the team and the patient. Conclusion: The role of the scrub nurse has been important in meeting the requirements for the safe operation of the catheterization laboratory as the precondition for the safe work of the whole team and for the security of the patient.