Cardiac Catheterization

When you experience chest pain, it’s important to see your doctor. If your doctor suspects heart disease, he may recommend a cardiac catheterization or coronary angiogram. This procedure has become a very important tool in detecting heart problems, preventing heart attacks—and saving lives.

What Cardiac Catheterization Can Do
Cardiac catheterization is an imaging test that takes X-rays of the blood vessels that surround the heart. Blood vessels, also known as arteries, are what carry nutrient-rich blood to the heart. The images help doctors see if an artery is narrowed or clogged because of a buildup of fatty deposits. These blockages are what cause heart disease and heart attacks. “Cardiac catheterization is a very useful diagnostic test. It is a relatively safe test, which gives your cardiologist essential information regarding the coronary arteries,” says Theodore Ritzer, MD, Cardiologist. If a clogged artery is found, cardiac catheterization can help doctors pinpoint its exact location and determine the best way to treat it. For example, if the blockage is severe, a doctor might perform an angioplasty during cardiac catheterization. An angioplasty helps open blocked arteries with tiny balloon-like devices that restore blood flow. This can help ease chest pain and possibly prevent a heart attack. In some cases, a stent also may need to be inserted into the blockage.

What to Expect During the Procedure
During cardiac catheterization, a doctor makes a tiny incision in your groin or arm. A thin plastic tube called a sheath is inserted through the incision. The doctor then guides the catheters through the sheath in your artery. Dye is injected to help doctors see the arteries more clearly. The arteries are viewed using X-rays and video. Cardiac catheterization can take 30 to 60 minutes. Most patients go home several hours after the test is completed. If angioplasty or a stent is needed, the patient will spend one night in the hospital following the procedure. Cardiac catheterization is common today for people with chest pain or those who have had a heart attack. It rarely causes serious problems, but complications like bleeding, infection, or allergic reactions to the dye can occur.

For more information, contact our Cardiology office at 931-502-3750.