Cardiac Catherization

What is a cardiac catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure that diagnoses various heart conditions, such as blockages in your coronary arteries. The procedure may also treat the heart condition. 

Why would I need a cardiac catheterization?

Your cardiovascular specialist at HeartCare Associates of Connecticut determines why you need a cardiac catheterization and can explain the purpose and benefits of the procedure for your specific cardiac needs. 

Common reasons to perform cardiac catheterization include:

• Finding blockages in your arteries
• Measuring oxygen and pressure in different areas of your heart
• Diagnosing a congenital heart defect
• Performing a biopsy
• Checking heart valves

The procedure may also treat heart conditions, such as:

• Angioplasty to widen an artery
• Balloon valvuloplasty to widen heart valves
• To repair congenital defects
• To repair or replace a malfunctioning heart valve

Your provider at HeartCare Associates of Connecticut goes over your procedure in detail, so you know what to expect before, during, and after to ease any concerns you may have.

What happens during a cardiac catheterization?

What happens during your cardiac catheterization depends on whether your cardiovascular specialist is gathering diagnostic information or performing a procedure.

For a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, your doctor performs the procedure in an outpatient setting using light sedation and a local anesthetic. You shouldn’t feel any discomfort during the procedure, which generally takes 20-30 minutes.

During the cardiac catheterization, your doctor passes a small hollow tube through an artery in your leg or wrist up to your heart. To assess for coronary blockage, your doctor injects a dye into the catheter and then captures X-ray images. 

If your cardiovascular specialist finds a blockage during the diagnostic portion of the procedure, then they may place a stent to open the narrowed artery, followed by a balloon angioplasty to prevent the artery from collapsing. Your doctor may recommend an overnight stay in the hospital following stent placement. 

The experts at HeartCare Associates of Connecticut use either a bare metal or drug-coated stent during the procedure. 

What happens after a cardiac catheterization?

After your cardiac catheterization, HeartCare Associates of Connecticut has you return to the office to review the results of the procedure and then schedule regular follow-ups so your specialist can continue to monitor your heart health.

For an evaluation with a cardiovascular specialist to learn more about cardiac catheterization, call HeartCare Associates of Connecticut or select the online booking button today.