Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization (also called cardiac cath or coronary angiogram) is an invasive imaging procedure that tests for heart disease by allowing your doctor to "see" how well your heart is functioning. During the test, a long, narrow tube, called a catheter, is inserted into a blood vessel in your arm or leg and guided to your heart with the aid of a special X-ray machine.
- What Is Cardiac Catheterization?
- Who Needs Cardiac Catheterization?
- What To Expect Before Cardiac Catheterization ?
- What To Expect After Cardiac Catheterization?
- Key Points Cardiac catheterization
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What To Expect After Cardiac Catheterization?
After cardiac catheterization, you will be moved to a special care area. You will rest there for several hours or overnight. During that time, your movement will be limited to avoid bleeding from the site where the catheter was inserted.
While you recover in this area, nurses will check your heart rate and blood pressure regularly. They also will check for bleeding from the catheter insertion site.
A small bruise may develop on your arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck at the site where the catheter was inserted. That area may feel sore or tender for about a week. Let your doctor know if you develop problems such as:
- • A constant or large amount of bleeding at the insertion site that can't be stopped with a small bandage
- • Unusual pain, swelling, redness, or other signs of infection at or near the insertion site
• Talk to your doctor about whether you should avoid certain activities, such as heavy lifting, for a short time after the procedure.
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What Are the Risks of Cardiac Catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization is a common medical procedure that rarely causes serious problems. However, complications can include:
- • Bleeding, infection, and pain where the catheter was inserted.
- • Damage to blood vessels. Rarely, the catheter may scrape or poke a hole in a blood vessel as it's threaded to the heart.
- • An allergic reaction to the dye used.
Other, less common complications of the procedure include:
- • Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats). These often go away on their own, but may need treatment if they persist.
- • Damage to the kidneys caused by the dye used.
- • Blood clots that can trigger stroke, heart attack, or other serious problems.
- • Low blood pressure.
- • A buildup of blood or fluid in the sac that surrounds the heart. This fluid can prevent the heart from beating properly.
As with any procedure involving the heart, complications can sometimes be fatal. However, this is rare with cardiac catheterization.
The risk of complications with cardiac catheterization is higher if you have diabetes or kidney disease, or if you're aged 75 or older. The risk of complications also is greater in women and in people having cardiac catheterization on an emergency basis.