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What is Cardiac Catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization is the procedure in which a doctor guides a tiny
plastic tube or catheter through an artery or vein in the arm or leg and into
the heart and the coronary arteries in the heart. This test can measure blood
pressure and amount of the oxygen in the blood, and provide other information
about the pumping ability and performance of the heart muscle, for treatment.
When a catheter is used to inject dye into the coronary arteries, this is
termed Coronary Angiography. Cardiac Catheterization can also be
performed on infants and children to diagnose congenital cardiac defects.
Cardiac catheterization is the gold standard procedure for diagnosis of most of
the heart diseases.
What is Angiography?
Arteriography (Angiography) , is a diagnostic procedure in which an
x-ray contrast agent (opaque dye) is injected into the bloodstream. Then x-ray
pictures are taken and studied to see if the arteries are diseased.
Coronary Arteriography is used to evaluate anomalies and blockages in
the arteries that supply blood to the heart. It is an important tool that helps
doctors evaluates the number and severity of diseased coronary arteries.
How safe is Coronary Angiography?
It is different for every patient. Your doctor should discuss it with you on an
individual basis. In general, when performed by experienced physicians in
hospital-based laboratories, the procedure is very safe. The information gained
assists your physician in selecting optimal treatment for you.
How do you prepare for an Angiography?
You will be asked not to eat or drink after midnight the day before your exam.
You should take a shower, shave your groin hairs on both sides. If you have
allergies to contrast media, iodine or shellfish you will be asked to take
medication the night before your procedure. It is recommended that someone
brings you to the hospital and take you home, as you should not drive following
this test. Arrangements should be made to have someone stay with you if you
return home the same day as your test.
What will you feel during the Angiography?
The local anesthetic will feel like a sting, lasting only a few seconds. You
will feel pressure from the doctor's hands when they press on your groin.
You will still be awake and aware of what is happening during the procedure.
Your physician may ask you to hold your breath and answer questions during the
exam. He might also ask you to cough.
You will not feel the catheter in your body. You may feel a slight warm
sensation when the contrast media is injected. If your physician is taking
pictures of the arteries in your head, you may feel a warm flush on the sides
of your face when we inject contrast. This goes away rapidly.
You may experience some minor discomfort immediately after the procedure when
the nurse is holding pressure on your groin.
How long does coronary angiography take?
It usually takes about 30 minutes. After the procedure you are transferred to
the recovery room or to your bed and the arterial sheath is withdrawn from your
groin and a nurse uses manual compression or a compressor disk to stop bleeding
In most cases it is done as a one day procedure.
Are there any risks or side-effects?
- Some people get a short angina-type pain during angiography. This goes soon.
- A groin bruise may form under the skin where the catheter was inserted
(usually the groin). This is not serious, but it may be sore for a few days.
- Rarely the small wound where the catheter is inserted becomes infected. Tell
your physician if the wound becomes red and tender. A short course of
antibiotics will usually deal with this if it occurs.
- The contrast agent may give you a hot, flushing sensation when it is
injected. Many people also describe a warm feeling in the groin when the dye is
injected - as if they have "wet themselves". These feelings last just
a few seconds (and the operator will tell you when they are about to inject the
dye).
- Rarely, an allergic reaction to the contrast material may happen, and the
patient may fell shortness of breath and itching in the body, especially head
and neck; in this case you should inform your physician immediately.
* Serious complications are rare, but do occur sometimes. The risk is mainly in
the people who already have serious heart disease. Your doctor will only
recommend cardiac catheterization if he feels the benefits outweigh the small
risk.
How to get an appointment for angiography ?
Look at the attending physician’s time table. Find your physician’s
availability at the clinic. Bring all documents and lab results with yourself
and ask your physician for an angiography referral letter, if you haven’t get
any yet.
You need to have a referral letter with yourself before coming to the Milad
Heart Center, located on the ground level, at Milad Hospital.
How to get your angiography report ?
Your report will be ready the day after you have angiography. You can obtain a
copy of your report everyday except holidays between 12-2 pm by coming to the
Milad Heart Center, report office located on the ground level.
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