Cardiac catheterization is a procedure that is performed to enable the health care provider to assess the state of your arteries and point out if there is a need for repair. The specialists can complete this procedure by getting access to your arteries through the wrist’s arteries. Cardiac catheterization in Riverside is performed by qualified and experienced specialists who carry out the procedure carefully to ensure it becomes a success.
What is cardiac catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization refers to an invasive, non-surgical procedure used to identify any problem in your artery or assess a plaque build-up in the arteries of your heart. It is also used to evaluate the heart’s pumping function, pressure readings, and how it obtains oxygen.
What happens during the procedure?
The doctor starts by sedating you before inserting the catheter to ensure you do not experience any pain during the procedure. The catheter is then inserted in a vein or artery on your arm, neck, or groin then through that blood vessel to the heart. Through this catheter, the doctor can observe any arterial narrowing on a large monitor and run some diagnostic tests. Most patients report no or slight pain or discomfort during the procedure.
What are the risks?
Just like most cardiovascular procedures, cardiac catheterization may cause some complications or side effects. Even though severe complications are rare, the following are possible bleeding, bruising, infection, kidney damage, allergic reaction to medication or dye, heart attack, arterial damage where the catheter was inserted, irregular heartbeat, blood clots, torn heart tissue, or artery and stroke.
What do the results tell you?
It is always the role of the specialist or doctor who has performed the test to explain to you his findings and results. For instance, if you had a coronary angiogram, the results can reveal the need for a stent, angioplasty, or a significant open-heart procedure referred to as coronary bypass surgery. It may also show the need for angioplasty as an effective treatment if you have a narrowed artery. In such a case, angioplasty is performed immediately and in the same procedure to prevent the need to do cardiac catheterization again.
What is a percutaneous coronary intervention?
Percutaneous coronary intervention is a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure performed to unblock narrowed arteries of your heart. It is a procedure that uses balloon angioplasty or a stent and serves as an alternative to open-heart surgery. It can also be performed in an outpatient or inpatient department, and most people can tolerate it with minimal or no downtime.
What are the risks?
Severe complications of percutaneous coronary intervention are rare. Still, it usually raises some risks similar to cardiac catheterization, such as stroke, blood vessel damage, allergic reactions, heart attack, bleeding, heartbeat irregularities, and heart attack. The risks are also higher if you are older, have extensive heart disease, chronic kidney disease, or heart failure.
Therefore suppose you or someone close to you is suspecting to have some problems with their arteries, vein, or heart. It is advisable to have coronary catheterization to help your specialist identify the specific cause of your problem. Call or visit Syed Bokhari, MD, FACC, today for more information.
