What Is Cardiac Catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization (also called cardiac cath or coronary angiogram) is an invasive imaging procedure which enables your physician to"see" how well your heart is supplied by arteries. Throughout the evaluation, a long, narrow tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood vessel in your leg or arm and directed to a own heart with the assistance of a unique x ray machine. Contrast dye is injected through the catheter in order that x ray videos of one's valves, coronary arteries, and heart chambers may be generated.

Get Nurse for home for the care of Cardiac Catheterization patient.

Why Do I Want a Cardiac Cath?

Your doctor utilizes cardiac cath to:

Evaluate or confirm that the presence of heart disease (such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, or illness of the aorta)
Evaluate heart muscle function
Determine the need for Additional therapy (like an interventional procedure or bypass operation )

At many health centers, interventional approaches to open blocked arteries are completed after the diagnostic part of the cardiac cath is complete. Less commonly, the intervention is completed after as a separate procedure. Interventional procedures consist of balloon angioplasty and stent placement. Rarely, more difficult procedures, such as brachytherapy, atherectomy, rotoblation, and cutting bin have been all done.

Which Are the Risks Related to Cardiac Cath?

A cardiac cath is generally safe. However, as with any invasive procedure, there are risks. Special precautions are required to decrease those risks. Your doctor will discuss the risks of the task along with you.

Risks of a coronary artery cath are rare but can include:

Bleeding around the point of puncture

Abnormal heart rhythms

Blood clots

Illness 

Allergic reaction to the dye

Stroke

Heart attack

Perforation of a blood vessel

Air embolism (debut of air into a blood vessel, which can be Life Threatening )

Departure 

Remember to ask your doctor any questions you might have before undergoing the procedure.

Just how Should I Prepare for a Cardiac Cath?

To get a cardiac cath, the majority of individuals need to own blood tests and an electrocardiogram.

You can wear anything you like in a medical facility.

Leave all valuables at home. In the event that you normally wear dentures, glasses, or perhaps a hearing device, intend to put them on throughout the cardiac cath.

Your doctor or nurse will provide you specific guidelines about what you can and cannot eat or drink before the procedure.

Tell your doctor all the medications you are currently taking, including herbal products and dietary supplements.

Ask your physician what medication should be studied on your day of one's cardiac cath. You may be told to stop taking certain medications, such as Coumadin (a blood thinner), for a couple of days before the procedure.

If you have diabetes, ask your physician how to adjust your diabetes drugs on the day of your exam.

Tell your doctor or nurses if you are allergic to anything, particularly peppermint, peppermint, X-ray dye, latex, or rubber products (such as rubber gloves or balloons) or even penicillin-type medications.


You may or may not return home through your day of your operation. Bring items together with you (such as a robe, slippers, and toothbrush) to make your stay much more comfortable. When you can come home, arrange for someone to bring you home.

Just how Long Does a Cardiac Cath Last?

A cardiac cath procedure typically takes roughly 30minutes (and more if you undergo a intervention), but the preparation and recovery time add a few hours. Anticipate being at the clinic daily to that procedure.

What Happens During a Cardiac Cath?

You're going to probably be given a hospital gown to put on. A nurse will start an intravenous (IV) line in your arm so that medications and fluids can be treated throughout your vein during the process.

The cardiac cath room looks like an operating room. You may lie on a unique dining table. When you look above, you will see a massive camera and several television monitors. You may see the images of your cardiac cath on your monitors.

The nurse can wash your skin (and potentially shave) the site where the catheter will be inserted (arm or groin). Sterile drapes are used to cover the site and help prevent disease. It's important that you maintain your hands and arms down at your sides rather than disturb the drapes.