Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure utilized to detect and treat certain heart conditions. A long, slim, flexible tube known as a catheter is placed in a blood vessel inside your arm, groin, or neck and threaded to your heart. Through the catheter, physicians are capable of doing diagnostic tests and treatments on your heart.

Cardiac catheterization is frequently used to examine chest pain. It might also be performed during a heart attack to spot narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. In addition, you might require this procedure if other tests suggest you’ve got coronary artery disease.

Prior to having cardiac catheterization, consult with your doctor how you can get ready for the test and any specific instructions you have to adhere to.

Cardiac Catheterization Procedure

It might not be safe to drive immediately after the catheterization procedure. If your doctor says you are able to go back home the same day, you need to arrange for a ride home from the medical center. During cardiac catheterization, you’re kept on your back and conscious, that way you are able to follow your doctor’s instructions throughout the procedure. You’re given medicine that will help you relax.

Following the procedure, you’ll be transferred to a special care spot, where you will rest for a couple of hours or overnight. During this time period, your movement will be restricted to avoid bleeding from the site where the catheter was placed.

Who Needs Catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization can be used to identify and/or treat numerous heart conditions. Doctors might suggest this procedure for several different reasons. The most typical reason is to assess chest pain. Chest pain could be a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), and also cardiac catheterization can show whether plaque is narrowing or obstructing your heart’s arteries.

CAD can usually be treated during cardiac catheterization using a procedure known as angioplasty. During angioplasty, a little balloon is put through the catheter and directly into the blocked artery. Once the balloon is inflated, it compresses the plaque that has accumulated within the artery. This results in a wider path for blood to circulate to the heart. Occasionally, a stent is put in the artery during angioplasty. A stent is a little mesh tube that’s used to take care of narrowed or weakened arteries within the body.

Please feel free to call us at 512-206-2988 if you have any questions about our catheterization procedure, or if you would like to make an appointment to see Dr. Tiblier.