Cardiac catheterization
Alternative names:
catheterization - cardiac; heart catheterization
How the test is performed:
You are given a mild sedative prior to the test. An intravenous catheter is started in your arm to allow for the administration of medication during the procedure. A radiologist or cardiologist inserts the catheter through a small incision in an artery or vein in your arm, neck, or groin after cleansing the site and numbing the site with a local anesthetic. The catheter is then carefully threaded into your heart using X-ray images called fluoroscopy to guide the insertion. When the catheter is in place, dye is injected to visualize the structures and vessels within the heart.
How to prepare for the test:
Food and fluid is restricted for 6 to 8 hours before the test. Sometimes, admission the night before the test is required. Otherwise, admission as an outpatient or inpatient the morning of the procedure is required. An explanation of the procedure and its risks is provided by a health care provider. A witnessed, signed consent for the procedure is required. A mild sedative is usually given 1/2 hour before the procedure. You will wear hospital clothing.
Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
How the test will feel:
The procedure takes place in a radiology department, special procedures room, or cardiac diagnostics laboratory within a hospital. Sedation is given to relax you prior to the procedure, but you are awake and able to follow instructions during the test. You will remain on a stretcher for the duration of the test. An incision is made into your vein or artery for threading the catheter into your heart. Local anesthesia is given to insert the catheter, so the only sensation is one of pressure at the site. Discomfort may arise from having to remain still for prolonged periods of time. The procedure may last from 1 to several hours.
Why the test is performed:
The procedure is performed to evaluate cardiac valvular disease, heart function and blood supply, congenital heart anomalies, and to determine the need for cardiac surgery. Therapeutic catheterization may be used to repair certain types of heart defects, open a stenotic heart valve, and dilate obstructed arteries or grafts in the heart.
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