Diagnostic heart catheterization

Procedure Information

What is Diagnostic heart catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is used to treat and diagnose some cardiovascular diseases. During this procedure, the physician inserts a long thin tube, called a catheter, into a vein or artery in your neck, arm, or groin areas. The catheter is then advanced through the blood vessels to the right or left sides of your heart.

Why would I get heart catheterization?

Your physician will recommend undergoing diagnostic heart catheterization to help in:

• Diagnosing valvular diseases. 
• Evaluating your heart muscle function.
• Diagnosing coronary artery disease, which is narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the heart.
• Locating any blockages in your coronary arteries (Blood vessels that supply your heart), and determining if you need further treatment like coronary artery bypass graft. 
• Measuring oxygen and pressure levels in different chambers of your heart.
• Diagnosing congenital heart defects.

What happens during heart catheterization?

Before the procedure starts, you will be given an anesthetic to numb the area through which the catheter will be inserted.

Your physician will make a small cut to access an artery and a plastic sheath will be inserted in the cut to allow the doctor to insert the catheter. Then, the physician will insert the catheter. The next steps depend on why you are having the procedure.

• Coronary angiogram: If your doctor wants to check the health of your coronary arteries or check for any blockages, a dye is injected through the catheter, and X-ray images of your coronary arteries will be taken. This will help your doctor to decide whether you will need further treatment or not.
• Left heart catheterization: This procedure checks the blood flow and pressure in the left side of your heart. Your doctor will insert a catheter into a artery in your neck or groin. The catheter advances until it reaches the left side of your heart. The catheter has special sensors in it to measure the blood flow and pressure in the left side of your heart.

What to expect after heart catheterization?

After the procedure is done, you will spend few hours in the recovery room until anesthesia wears off. You will be able to drink and eat after the procedure is done. You will most likely be able to go home the same day as your procedure; however, you may stay for a night or longer if you have an additional procedure such as angioplasty and stent placement.

Conclusion

If you have had a coronary angiogram, your results could indicate that you need angioplasty or a stent. If your doctor finds this, angioplasty with or without stent placement will be performed so that you don't need to have another cardiac catheterization. Your doctor will discuss with you whether there is a possibility for this to happen before the procedure begins.

Citations

Mayo Clinic: Cardiac catheterization