Heart Disease:
Diagnosing Heart Disease: Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization (also called cardiac cath or coronary angiogram) is a procedure that allows your doctor to "see" how well your heart is functioning. The test involves inserting a long, narrow tube, called a catheter, into a blood vessel in your arm or leg, and guiding it to your heart with the aid of a special X-ray machine. Contrast dye is injected through the catheter so that X-ray movies of your valves, coronary arteries and heart chambers can be created.
Why Do I Need a Cardiac Catheterization?
Your doctor uses cardiac cath to:
- Evaluate or confirm the presence of heart disease (such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disease or disease of the aorta).
- Evaluate heart muscle function.
- Determine the need for further treatment (for example, angioplasty or bypass surgery )
- At many medical centers, cardiac catheterization is used to perform several interventional, or therapeutic, procedures to open blocked arteries (such as balloon angioplasty, brachytherapy, atherectomy and stents).
What Are the Risks Associated With Cardiac Catheterization?
Risks are rare, but can include:
- Bleeding around the point of puncture
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Allergic reaction to the dye
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Perforation of a blood vessel
- Air embolism (introduction of air into a blood vessel which can be life-threatening)
- Death
Be sure to ask your doctor any questions before undergoing the procedure.
How Should I Prepare for the Procedure?
Most people will need to have a routine chest X-ray , blood tests and electrocardiogram performed within 2 weeks before the procedure.
You can wear whatever you like to the hospital. You will wear a hospital gown during the procedure.
Leave all valuables at home. If you normally wear dentures, glasses or a hearing assist device, plan to wear them during the procedure.
Your doctor or nurse will give you specific instructions about what you can and cannot eat or drink before the procedure.
Ask your doctor what medications should be taken on the day of your test. You may be told to stop certain medications, such as Coumadin (warfarin, a blood thinner).
If you have diabetes, ask your doctor how to adjust your medications the day of your test.
Tell your doctor and/or nurses if you are allergic to anything, especially iodine, shellfish, X-ray dye, latex or rubber products (such as rubber gloves or balloons) or penicillin-type medications.
You may or may not return home the day of your procedure. Bring items with you (such as robe, slippers and toothbrush) to make your stay more comfortable. When you are able to return home, arrange for someone to bring you home.
Next: How long does the procedure last? »
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