What Happens During a Cardiac Catheterization?
A specially trained cardiologist will do the cardiac catheterization in a catheterization lab. The lab contains X-ray and imaging machines not found in normal operating rooms.
First, nurses will insert an intravenous (IV) line into your arm so you can be given medications and fluids during the procedure. You will then be given a sedative to help you relax and sleep.
You'll lie on a small table surrounded by heart monitors and other equipment. A team of doctors and nurses will make sure that you're comfortable and the procedure goes smoothly. Catheterization labs are normally kept cool to protect sensitive equipment, so your medical team might give you blankets to keep you warm.
A nurse will place small, sticky patches called electrodes on your chest. These are attached to an electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor, which monitors your heartbeat during the procedure.
A nurse will clean and maybe shave the area where the catheter is going to be inserted. You'll get an injection of a numbing medication. At this point you may feel a momentary stinging pain. Once the area is numb, a plastic sheath (a short, hollow tube used to guide the catheter into your blood vessel) will be inserted into your groin or arm, and then the catheter itself will follow.
The cardiologist will use X-rays to help guide the catheter as it moves up the blood vessels toward your heart. When the catheter is in place, doctors inject a small amount of special dye (contrast material) into your blood vessels and heart. The contrast material allows the doctors to see the vessels, valves, and chambers of your heart more clearly.
As the contrast material flows through your heart, the medical team will take X-rays. If your doctors are doing the catheterization to fix a problem or take a biopsy, they'll do these procedures after the X-rays are done.
What Are the Risks of Cardiac Catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization is usually a very safe procedure, especially when compared with open-heart surgery. Complications are rare.
But any procedure involving the heart and blood vessels does carry some risks. The doctor will discuss these with you and your parents before doing the catheterization.
Some of the risks of cardiac catheterization include bleeding where the catheter goes into the skin, an allergic reaction to the medications or contrast material used during the procedure, and blockage of the groin artery. Doctors can treat all of these complications immediately.