WHAT IS CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION?
IS IT SAFE? The risk for the procedure is small and catheterization is considered a relatively safe procedure. Although most patients who undergo catheterization do not experience complications, you should be aware of the risk. Ask your physician to learn about your particular risk. WHY IS CATHETERIZATION IMPORTANT? Cardiac catheterization provides more accurate and detailed information about the heart's function than other diagnostic tests. It enables doctors to diagnose several heart conditions. PRE-PROCEDURE PREPARATION
EXPLANATION OF THE PROCEDURE
A small incision is made in the skin, and a needle is inserted into the blood vessel (like starting an IV). A catheter will then be advanced toward the heart. You will not feel the catheter because there are no nerve endings on the inside of the blood vessels or the heart. Dye is injected through the catheter into the coronary arteries, and the x-ray camera will record pictures. You may be able to see some of the pictures on the television screen. You may be asked to take a deep breath and hold it and to cough forcefully to help move the dye through the heart. During the injection of the dye into the left ventricle (main pumping chamber of the heart) you may feel a warm sensation or "hot flash" over your body lasting for only 20 to 30 seconds.
When all the information has been obtained, the catheters are removed and bleeding is prevented by holding pressure over the artery. The entire procedure will usually last about twenty minutes.
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Cardiac catheterization (heart study) is a procedure that involves the insertion of a catheter (which is a thin, long, flexible tube) into the body. The catheter is inserted into a vein or artery and directed toward the heart. Special x-ray equipment is used to watch the movement of the catheter inside the body.
Cardiac catheterization allows doctors to assess the pumping function of the heart and to examine the coronary arteries (the vessels that supply oxygen rich blood to the heart muscle) and heart valves. Other terms used to describe cardiac catheterization are: coronary angiography, angiogram, and cardiac (or heart) cath.
Upon arrival to the center a nurse will admit you to a room. Whomever accompanied you to the Center will be asked to wait while you are getting ready for the procedure. You will be asked to read over and sign a consent form. This is a good time to ask any questions and to share any feelings of concern you may have about the test. After the consent form is signed you will be given something orally to help you relax (you will not be put to sleep). The nurse will shave the area where the catheters will be inserted (usually the right groin area) and start an IV. The IV line allows for any medication to be injected directly into the vein, if needed.
The catheterization is done in a special x-ray room called the "cath lab." You will be taken to the cath lab on your bed and transferred to a x-ray table. You will be relaxed but awake. This room is kept cold for the equipment. The table has a large camera above it and television screens near by. The shaved groin area will be cleansed with a betadine solution and then you will be draped with a sterile sheet. The skin area where the catheter will be inserted will be numbed with a local anesthetic. This may initially feel like a bee sting and then the area will become numb.
