Cardiac Catheterization
Doctors at Gadsden Regional Medical Center use cardiac catheterization to both diagnose and treat heart disease. This minimally invasive, interventional cardiology technique uses a catheter (thin, flexible tube) that is inserted into the arteries to examine the heart, arteries and veins with real-time images (fluoroscopy). These procedures only require a tiny incision where the catheter is inserted into an artery, so it can result in less blood loss, less pain and a quicker recovery for patients.
Your physician may schedule you for a cardiac catheterization if you have recently had one or more episodes of cardiac symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
Other reasons for cardiac catheterization may include evaluation of myocardial perfusion (blood flow to the heart muscle) after heart attack, heart bypass surgery, coronary angioplasty (the opening of a coronary artery using a balloon or other method) or stent placement (a tiny expandable metal coil placed inside the artery to keep the artery open).
The cardiac cath lab at Gadsden Regional Medical Center features:
- Diagnostic and interventional procedures performed by experienced cardiologists
- Experienced personnel that includes registered nurses and registered cardiovascular invasive specialists
- New admission/holding area for outpatient procedures with individual monitoring capabilities, privacy and comfort
What to Expect
Once you have arrived for your procedure and been settled in a treatment room, an intravenous (IV) line will be started in your hand or arm prior to the procedure for injection of medication and to administer IV fluids if needed. The area designated as the catheterization site (groin, arm, or wrist) will be clipped and washed with an antiseptic soap. You will receive a sedative medication in your IV before the procedure to help you relax. The pulses in your feet will be checked and the location where the pulses are felt will be marked on the skin with a marker. This is done in order to be able to compare the strength of these pulses after the procedure.
You will lie flat on your back during the entire procedure. There will be several monitor screens in the room showing your vital signs (EKG, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and oxygen level), the images of the catheter being moved through the body into the heart and the structures of the heart as the dye is injected. A large X-ray camera above the table will record pictures of the procedure.
A numbing medication (lidocaine or xylocaine) will be injected into the cath site. Once the numbing medication has taken effect, the physician will insert a catheter into the artery or vein. It will be very important for you to remain still during the procedure so that the catheter placement is not disturbed and to avoid causing damage to the insertion site.
The physician advances the catheter through the blood vessels into the heart. This is done by watching the catheter on the monitor and guiding it into the proper structures. The catheter may be advanced into either the right or left side of the heart, or both sides, depending on what the physician is looking for.
Pressures are obtained at various locations within the heart structures. Blood samples may be withdrawn to assess oxygen levels at various places in the heart. Dye may be injected into one or more of the heart's chambers to assess blood flow and the heart's structure. When the dye is injected, you may notice a feeling of warmth or even a hot flash. This sensation will last for only a few seconds. The catheter may be advanced to the coronary arteries, where dye is injected to determine if there are any blockages and where the blockages, if any, are located.
At certain points during the procedure, you may be asked to take in a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds. You may also be asked to cough during the procedure. If you notice any discomfort or pain, such as chest pain, neck or jaw pain, back pain, arm pain, shortness of breath or breathing difficulty, let the physician know.
Once the physician has obtained the information needed, the catheter will be removed from the insertion site. The physician or an assistant will hold pressure on the insertion site for about 15 to 20 minutes, so that the blood can begin to form a clot at the site and stop the bleeding. Once the physician or assistant is satisfied that the bleeding has stopped, a bandage will be applied to the site.
For more information on cardiac catheterization at Gadsden Regional Medical Center, please call (256) 494-4223