What happens during a cardiac catheterization?
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Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:Generally, a cardiac catheterization follows this process:
- Once you are in the procedure room, you will move onto the x-ray table. You will lie on your back with a pillow under your head.
- The nurse will give you medication through the IV line in your arm or hand. The medications will help you relax and make you drowsy. You will still be able to talk and follow directions, such as holding your breath.
- A member of the cardiovascular team will begin to clean the area with a special soap. You will be asked to keep your hands by your side to help keep the area sterile and to decrease the risk of infection. A large sterile sheet will be placed over you to keep you warm and maintain a sterile area.
- The skin will be numbed with a local anesthetic similar to the medicine your dentist uses. Once your skin is numb, you will only feel pressure at the site during the procedure.
- A full heart catheterization is usually complete in about 30 minutes. The catheters used are similar to a large IV catheter. You will not feel pain or the catheter moving once it is in place.
- When the catheter is in position, a dye is injected into the catheter to form a picture of your arteries. You may feel some warmth in your neck, arms, legs, and abdomen for a few seconds as the dye is injected.
- At this time the doctor and radiology technologist may ask you to hold very still or take a deep breath when the table and camera move to take pictures from different angles.
- The x-ray picture of the dye injection creates a map of your heart arteries called an angiogram. At this time the doctor will be able to see blockages in your arteries and will discuss several methods of treatment procedures with you. Sometimes these procedures are done immediately and during the catheterization.
Generally, a cardiac catheterization follows this process: Once you are in the procedure room, you will move onto the x-ray table. You will lie on your back with a pillow under your head. The nurse will give you medication through the IV line... More -
Baptist Health South Florida answered:Heart catheterizations involve threading a thin wire, or catheter, through blood vessels leading to the heart to diagnose various heart and blood vessel problems. In minimally invasive angioplasties, doctors use stents and tiny balloons, delivered via catheters, to open clogged blood vessels and restore blood flow to the heart.
Heart catheterizations involve threading a thin wire, or catheter, through blood vessels leading to the heart to diagnose various heart and blood vessel problems. In minimally invasive angioplasties, doctors use stents and tiny balloons,... More -
Intermountain Healthcare answered:Cardiac catheterization takes about an hour. You'll be relaxed but awake, because you might be asked to breathe deeply or cough. Here is what will happen:
- Local anesthetic. The doctor will inject numbing medication where the catheter will be inserted. This usually feels like a pinprick with some burning, and only lasts a few seconds.
- Inserting the catheter. Your doctor will insert a sheath into a blood vessel. You'll feel some pressure at first. The catheter will be put into the sheath and threaded to your heart.
- Locating the problem. The doctor will inject contrast dye through the catheter. For a few seconds, you'll feel a warm sensation. X-rays will be used to show the contrast dye on a screen.
- Removing the catheter. The catheter will be withdrawn, and the sheath will be removed. The site may be closed with a stitch or closure device.
Cardiac catheterization takes about an hour. You'll be relaxed but awake, because you might be asked to breathe deeply or cough. Here is what will happen: Local anesthetic. The doctor will inject numbing medication where the catheter will be... More
