Navigating the Cardiac Catheterization Process

Cardiac catheterization is a procedure doctors use to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions, and it provides them with detailed information about your heart’s function. During the procedure, a long, thin tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to your heart, which allows for direct assessment of heart chambers, valves, and coronary arteries. Here is a clear overview of the steps involved with cardiac catheterization:

Mild Sedation

Before the procedure begins, you will receive medication to help you relax. This is typically a mild sedative administered through an intravenous (IV) line. While you will remain awake and be able to follow instructions, you will feel drowsy. The sedative helps you stay calm and comfortable, and the medical team will monitor you throughout the process.

Inserted Catheter

The doctor will numb an area on your arm, groin, or neck. They make a small puncture in a blood vessel at this site, and then they insert a plastic sheath to keep the vessel open. After this step, they carefully insert a catheter through the sheath.

Using X-ray imaging for guidance, the doctor navigates the catheter through your blood vessels to your heart. You may feel some pressure at the insertion site, but the movement of the catheter inside your vessels is generally mild. This part of the cardiac catheterization procedure requires precision and skill from the medical team.

Once the catheter reaches the heart, the diagnostic phase begins. The team will perform several tests to gather information. The specific tests depend on your individual medical needs, and it is based on what your doctor is evaluating.

Diagnostic Tests

One standard test is a coronary angiogram. During this test, doctors inject a special dye through the catheter, and the dye makes your coronary arteries visible on X-rays. This process allows the doctor to identify any blockages or narrowed areas in the arteries supplying blood to your heart muscle. The X-ray images, or angiograms, are recorded for review.

Another test that might be performed is a right heart catheterization. This measures pressures within the right side of your heart and in the pulmonary artery. The catheter goes into the right atrium and right ventricle, and the data helps doctors evaluate heart function and diagnose conditions such as pulmonary hypertension.

These tests look for:

Presence of narrowed or blocked coronary arteries
Blood pressure levels within the heart chambers and the pulmonary artery
Heart valve function and abnormalities
Congenital heart defects or structural heart issues
Blood flow efficiency in the heart and surrounding vessels

Comprehensive Plaque Assessment

Doctors may use advanced tools, and these help them get a better look at plaque buildup inside the arteries. These tools provide detailed images from within the blood vessel itself. At some facilities, there are multiple types of intravascular imaging.

One utilizes sound waves to produce images of artery walls, helping to assess the amount and type of plaque. The other uses light to create high-resolution images, providing a detailed view of the artery lining. These assessments give your doctor a comprehensive understanding of any blockages.

Schedule Cardiac Catheterization Today

The cardiac catheterization procedure provides direct information about your heart’s health. Following the procedure, your doctor will discuss the findings with you and explain the next steps for your care. If you have questions about cardiac catheterization, speak with our team to get the information you need. Contact a cardiovascular care clinic today to schedule an appointment.