Home Heart health Cardiac catheterization: what it is and how to prepare

Cardiac catheterization: what it is and how to prepare

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Cardiac catheterization is a procedure performed to evaluate the coronary arteries and the heart’s anatomy through a catheter. Generally, it is committed to ruling out more severe pathologies, repairing or opening clogged arteries, or confirming that it is necessary to perform heart surgery. This test is done for certain heart conditions and at FastlyHealwe explain what it is and how to prepare for a catheterization.

What is cardiac catheterization?

It is an invasive and complex procedure in which a catheter is inserted through the groin or arm, which goes to the heart to know if there is any alteration in the heart valves, if there are congenital disabilities, measure the concentrations of oxygen, and in some cases, obtain tissue samples to diagnose some diseases.

Who Needs a Cardiac Catheterization

Catheterization is performed, above all, to confirm whether a person needs heart surgery, to treat a condition, to open valves or arteries, or to obtain more precise information on how the blood vessels and the heart, in general, are working.

The conditions that need this procedure are the following:

  • Cardiac amyloidosis: consists of the accumulation of proteins in the body tissue, called amyloids, which replace normal tissue, causing a failure in this organ.
  • Cardiomyopathy: is a condition in which the muscle tissue of the heart, called the myocardium, weakens, causing the heart to not be able to pump enough blood to the body.
  • Heart failure: is the inability of the heart to pump blood with enough oxygen throughout the body.
  • Coronary heart disease: is related to the narrowing of the blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the heart due to plaque accumulation in the arteries.
  • Congenital heart disease: it is the most common type of congenital anomaly and is related to a problem in the structure of the heart and its proper functioning.
  • Pulmonary hypertension: There is very high blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries, allowing the right side of the heart to overstretch.
  • Heart valve problems.

Preparation for cardiac catheterization

This procedure is carried out in a health center and is performed by a cardiologist and his medical team previously; they will do a series of tests that include an echocardiogram and some questions about:

  • If you are allergic to medications or shellfish.
  • Take any medications, including erectile dysfunction drugs.
  • If you are pregnant.
  • Reactions to iodine or contrast materials.

The preparation for cardiac catheterization is:

  • Do not eat or drink anything for 6 to 8 hours before the test.
  • Please wear comfortable clothes.
  • Avoid wearing any necklace or garment that may interfere with the X-ray images.

How a cardiac catheterization is performed

First, a line is placed in the vein in the arm to deliver the medications and fluid needed during the procedure. Local anesthesia will be administered where the catheter will be inserted, and patches or electrodes will be placed on the chest; these are connected to a monitor that will indicate the heartbeat.

The patient will stay awake during the exam, and the doctor will use X-rays to guide the catheter through the blood vessels to the heart. Contrast material will be injected through the catheter to improve X-ray visualization; This procedure can take 30 and 60 minutes.

Once the exam is finished, the catheter is removed, and a bandage is placed; if the procedure is performed through the groin, it will be necessary to keep the leg elevated for the next 6 hours to avoid bleeding.

Care after cardiac catheterization

Full recovery could take less than a week and will be faster if the catheter is inserted through the arm. Here are some cares that you should take into account after a catheterization :

  • Walk short distances and avoid climbing stairs for the first two days.
  • Don’t do jobs where you have to bend over or lift heavy objects.
  • Do not drive for two days after the exam.
  • Avoid sexual activity for at least five days after catheterization.
  • Don’t use the bathtub or swim for the first week.
  • If the incision bleeds, lie down and hold it down for 30 seconds.

Possible risks

The risks that can occur during a catheterization are:

  • Cardiac tamponade.
  • Infarct .
  • Coronary artery injury.
  • Hypotension
  • Irregular heartbeat

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Cardiac catheterization: what it is and how to prepare, we recommend that you enter our category of Blood, heart and circulation .

 

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