Page 5 - Cardiology Pamphlet
P. 5
CARDIAC
CATHETERIZATION
WHAT HAPPENS DURING
CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION?
• Before the cath procedure, the catheter. They include
a nurse will put an IV instruments to measure the
(intravenous) line into a pressure of blood in each
vein in your arm so you can heart chamber and in blood
get medicine (sedative) vessels connected to the
to help you relax, but heart, view the interior of
you’ll be awake and able blood vessels, take blood
to follow instructions samples from different parts
during the procedure. of the heart, or remove
a tissue sample (biopsy)
• The nurse will clean and from inside the heart.
shave the area where the
doctor will be working. This • When a catheter is used to
is usually in the groin area. inject a dye that can be seen
on X-rays, the procedure
• A local anesthetic is is called angiography.
usually given to numb the
needle puncture site. • When a catheter is used to
clear a narrowed or blocked
• The doctor will make a artery, the procedure is
needle puncture through called angioplasty or a
your skin and into a large percutaneous coronary
blood vessel. A small intervention (PCI).
straw-sized tube (called a
sheath) will be inserted into • When a catheter is used to
the vessel. The doctor will widen a narrowed heart valve
gently guide a catheter (a opening, the procedure
long, thin tube) into your is called valvuloplasty.
vessel through the sheath.
A video screen will show the • The doctor will remove the
position of the catheter as catheters and the sheath.
it is threaded through the Your nurse will put pressure
major blood vessels and to on the site to prevent
the heart. You may feel some bleeding. Sometimes a
pressure in your groin, but special closure device
you shouldn’t feel any pain. is used. The procedure
lasts about an hour.
• Various instruments may
be placed at the tip of
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