A cardiac catheterization is a tool used to help your doctor study the condition of your heart. As this eMedTV segment explains, the procedure is performed to study the heart muscle and valves, and to check for narrowed or blocked arteries
You should avoid food or drinks for eight hours before cardiac catheterization. As this eMedTV article explains, your doctor will give you instructions on when to arrive at the medical facility, how to prepare for your procedure, and what to expect.
On the day of cardiac catheterization, you should bring a list of your current medications with you. This eMedTV page discusses precautionary steps that your doctor will take before the procedure, such as applying EKG patches and preparing an IV.
This eMedTV article describes in detail the process of a cardiac catheterization and the cath lab in which the procedure will be performed. Familiarizing yourself with this room before the procedure can make the test less overwhelming.
A procedure used to examine the heart, heart catheterization can help find blocked or narrowed arteries. This eMedTV resource offers details on the procedure and explains how it can help doctors treat symptoms associated with heart problems.
During cardiac catheterization recovery, drinking more fluids can help flush the dye from your system. This eMedTV segment offers more details on the recovery process, including what to expect and follow-up care suggestions.
As this eMedTV page explains, with any medical procedure, it is vital that you and the doctor have similar expectations. With a cardiac catheterization, depending on the results, you can review the findings and discuss treatment options together.
There are a few alternatives to cardiac catheterization, including echocardiogram and exercise stress test. This eMedTV segment also lists other more complicated test alternatives, such as CT scan, stress thallium, and spiral CT scanning.
What if you don't have a cardiac catheterization? As this eMedTV page explains, doctors can offer you medicine to help your condition, but a cardiac catheterization is the most accurate test for finding problems that are affecting your heart muscle.
Some medical procedures have increased risks for diabetics, and cardiac catheterization is one of them. This eMedTV article discusses potential complications for diabetics and lists symptoms that may signify a problem with the procedure.
Cardiac catheterization complications may include bleeding, infection, or allergic reaction. As this eMedTV resource explains, more serious but rare complications, such as stroke, heart attack, or lung problems, may also occur with this procedure.
In very rare circumstances, a patient may develop a stroke during a cardiac catheterization. As this page on the eMedTV Web site explains, however, strokes only occur in 7 out of 10,000 procedures and seem to be related to plaque in the aorta.
A possible complication of some medical procedures is loss of life. With cardiac catheterization, as this eMedTV page explains, conditions such as severe heart failure or diabetes may increase the risk of such a serious, although rare, complication.
Patients may develop kidney problems after cardiac catheterization, but this type of complication is rare. This eMedTV article explains how these problems are usually temporary and kidney function returns to normal without causing permanent damage.
As this eMedTV page explains, certain existing conditions can increase cardiac catheterization risks. With kidney disease, you are at an increased risk for kidney failure when you have any procedures that require the use of IV contrast dye.
Many things can cause irregular heartbeats. During a heart catheterization, as this eMedTV page explains, an electrical signal may be sent from a part of the heart that should not be sending signals, which can result in abnormal heartbeats.
There is a possible risk of developing infections with a heart catheterization. As this eMedTV resource explains, however, risk of infection is very low because disposable single-use catheters are used to ensure that the procedure is sterile.
Because catheters go through the heart, injury during a cardiac catheterization, while rare, is possible. This eMedTV Web page explains how certain injuries can be caused by the use of catheters or other devices during a cardiac catheterization.
It is possible to have a heart attack during a heart catheterization, but this is quite rare. This page of the eMedTV library explains how a heart attack occurs and discusses the likelihood of developing one during a cardiac catheterization.
Equipment failure during a cardiac cath is a rare but possible complication. As this segment of the eMedTV archives explains, although medical equipment is regularly tested and meets FDA standards, it is possible for a malfunction to occur.
As this eMedTV article explains, a possible problem with many medical procedures is blood clots, and cardiac catheterization also has this risk. This page discusses potential complications of small, large, and serious blood clots (pulmonary embolus).
Some people may experience minor bleeding with cardiac catheterization. As this page of the eMedTV Web site explains, bleeding problems often include blood clots, collection of blood below the skin, or blood vessel damage, and are usually temporary.
As this eMedTV page explains, the anesthesia used in medical procedures may cause an allergic reaction, and cardiac catheterization is one of those procedures. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include itchy eyes, runny nose, or skin rashes.
