Medical
Procedures
Cardiac
catherization is a common, painless, nonsurgical procedure
that assists the cardiologist in diagnosing heart disease.
The cardiologist will be able to obtain the following
information about your heart:
-
Coronary
artery narrowing or blockage due to
atheriosclerosis
-
Structure
and functioning of the heart valves
-
Aneurysm of
the heart wall or blood vessels
-
Contractility
of the heart muscle
-
Congenital
heart disease
The procedure
requires the cardiologist to insert a long flexible tube
called a catheter into a blood vessel and it is guided to
your heart. Once the catheter is in place a dye is injected
through the catheter to your heart and coronary arteries. A
series of x-ray pictures will be taken with the catheter in
different positions to get information from all areas of
your heart.
Once the catherization is completed, the catheter is remove
and firm pressure is applied to the incision in your groin
or arm for approximately 15-30 minutes. You will be required
to lay flat for 2-6 hours after the procedure to allow the
incision to begin healing. During your recovery your blood
pressure, and pulse will be continually monitored. There
will be a small bruise, and lump noted at the site of the
incision which may get larger after a few days at home. This
is the normal healing process and the bruise should
disappear within 2 weeks.
Before you are discharged your cardiologist will review the
results and findings with you and your family and decide on
any further course of action.
