Cardiac catheterization, commonly referred to as cardiac cath or heart catheterization, is a medical procedure that is used to detect and treat certain heart diseases. It allows doctors to examine the heart in detail to detect abnormalities and perform other tests or operations by inserting a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into a blood artery and guiding it to the heart.
During cardiac catheterization, a patient will usually be awake, but they will be given drugs to help them relax. Cardiac catheterization has a rapid recovery period and a minimal risk of complications
Usually, this procedure is done to diagnose and treat many heart conditions. If a patient has arrhythmias, angina, or cardiac valve issues.
Cardiac catheterization may be used to diagnose or treat the following conditions:
During the procedure, a doctor can:
Many procedures can be done along with cardiac catheterization, such as:
Cardiac catheterization has little or no major complications, however, it carries some complications like most operations involving the heart and blood arteries. These complications can be infection, bleeding, blood clots, bruising, cardiac or artery damage to the catheter implantation area, arrhythmia, heart attacks, and medications or contrast dye used in the procedure might cause allergic reactions.
Caution should be taken in case of pregnancy or even if the patient is planning for pregnancy.
The patient will be instructed to fast for six to eight hours before the cath procedure and given instructions on what to eat and drink before that.
After having the full medical history, a doctor may ask the patient to stop some of these medications before the procedure.
A nurse will insert an IV line into the patient’s vein in the arm before the cath procedure for the sedative administration. The patient may stay awake.
After using local anesthesia, the doctor will use a needle to insert it into a large vessel so that he can insert the sheath into that vessel to guide the catheter through it. This step is usually painless but the patient may feel some pressure in the groin.
for measuring blood pressure in each heart chamber and blood arteries, many tools can be placed at the tip of the catheter. They can be used to see the inside of blood vessels, take blood samples from various sections of the heart, or remove a tissue sample (biopsy) from the heart.
Using a catheter, a doctor can inject a dye to be seen on an X-ray, in a process called angiography.
A doctor can also use it to clear a restricted or blocked artery, in a process called angioplasty or PCI.
If a doctor used it to widen a narrowed heart valve opening, this procedure is called valvuloplasty.
After removing the catheter and sheath, a nurse should apply some pressure to the insertion site to reduce the risk of bleeding and usually, they use a closing device.
The whole procedure takes around an hour.
After going to the recovery room, a patient will be asked to stay in bed for a while and keep his leg straight.
If the patient showed any signs of chest pain or bleeding, they should inform the doctor.
The patient should receive written instructions to follow when they leave the hospital.
After getting home, a patient should follow the doctor’s instructions and take the mediations as directed, they should follow up with the doctor if they noticed any abnormalities or complications to the cardiac catheterization.
The multivessel disease has several side effects, including the following:
●Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
●Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
●In-stent restenosis
●In-stent thrombosis
●Stent embolization
●Side branch occlusion
●Stent fracture
●Graft failure
●Complications of surgery (bleeding, wound dehiscence, infection, pulmonary complication, stroke, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, acute kidney injury, transfusion-related reactions)
●Complications of PCI (bleeding, pseudoaneurysm, retroperitoneal hematoma, infection, arterial dissection, distal arterial embolization, coronary perforation, stroke, acute kidney injury, reperfusion injury)
© 2023 Gulf Intervention Society. All Rights Reserved. PCO in charge ICOM
President, Gulf Intervention Society
Interventional Cardiologists
National Guard Hospital
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Vice President, Gulf Intervention Society
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
Chairman of Education, EMA
Editor Chief New Emirates Medical Journal
Alain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
General Secretary, Gulf Intervention Society
Head of Cardiology Unit, Al Sabah Hospital
Kuwait City, Kuwait
