What to Expect from Cardiac Catheterization: A Step-by-Step Overview

If your doctor has recommended a cardiac catheterization, you likely have questions about what the procedure entails. This common diagnostic and interventional tool plays a crucial role in assessing and treating various heart conditions. It’s understandable to feel a bit apprehensive, but understanding the process can help alleviate any anxiety.

This blog aims to walk you through a step-by-step overview of cardiac catheterization, explaining how it’s performed, what vital information it detects, and what you can typically expect during your recovery.

What Is Cardiac Catheterization?

At its core, cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure that involves inserting a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel, typically in the groin (femoral artery), wrist (radial artery), or sometimes the arm. This catheter is then carefully threaded through the blood vessels, guided by X-ray imaging, until it reaches the heart. Once in place, the catheter can perform several functions, from diagnosing blockages to directly treating certain heart conditions.

How Is Cardiac Catheterization Performed?

The procedure is usually performed in a special operating room called a catheterization lab (or cath lab) and typically takes about 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on whether it’s solely diagnostic or includes an intervention.

1. Preparation:Before the procedure, you’ll be asked to fast for several hours. Once you arrive at the hospital, nurses will review your medical history and medications. You’ll change into a hospital gown, and an IV line will be placed in your arm for medications.
2. Local Anesthesia:The area where the catheter will be inserted will be numbed with a local anesthetic. You might feel a brief sting or burning sensation as the anesthetic is administered, but after that, you should not feel pain at the insertion site.
3. Catheter Insertion:A small incision or puncture is made at the numbed site, and a sheath (a short, hollow tube) is inserted into the artery. The catheter is then threaded through this sheath and guided through your blood vessels to your heart. You generally won’t feel the catheter moving inside your body. The medical team will monitor its progress using X-ray screens.
4. Diagnostic Phase (Coronary Angiogram):If the primary purpose is diagnosis, a contrast dye (visible on X-ray) is injected through the catheter into the coronary arteries. As the dye flows, X-ray images are taken, revealing any blockages, narrowing, or abnormalities in the arteries. Pressure measurements within the heart chambers can also be taken, and biopsies of heart tissue may be collected if needed.
5. Interventional Phase (If Applicable):If significant blockages are found, the procedure may immediately transition to an intervention, such as angioplasty, stent placement, or other interventions like valve repair or replacement.
6. Catheter Removal:Once the procedure is complete, the catheter and sheath are carefully removed. Pressure is applied to the insertion site to prevent bleeding. In some cases, a special device may be used to seal the artery.

What Does Recovery Typically Involve?

Recovery from cardiac catheterization is generally straightforward, but it requires a period of rest and monitoring.

1. Immediate Post-Procedure:You’ll be moved to a recovery area where nurses will closely monitor your vital signs, heart rate, and the insertion site for bleeding or swelling. You’ll need to lie flat for several hours (often 2-6 hours, depending on the insertion site and closure method) to allow the artery to seal properly and prevent complications.
2. Activity Restrictions:For the first 24-48 hours, you’ll be advised to avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and sometimes even climbing stairs.
3. Site Care:You’ll receive instructions on how to care for the insertion site, including keeping it clean and dry. Some bruising or a small lump at the site is common and usually resolves within a few weeks.

Your Partner in Cardiovascular Health

The physicians at Houston Physicians Hospital are committed to providing advanced, compassionate cardiovascular care, including diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization. They utilize state-of-the-art technology and expertise to diagnose and treat a wide range of heart conditions, helping patients achieve better heart health and an improved quality of life.

On the Cardiology & Electrophysiology page, you can scroll down and find a physician who’s right for you. Then click their link to visit their website and make an appointment with a trusted provider at Webster Surgical Hospital.