What is Cardiac Catheterization?
This is a procedure that provides your cardiologist with detailed information regarding how your heart functions.
Usually, a small catheter (long, fine tube) is inserted into an artery (a vessel that carries blood and oxygen) in the leg. The catheter is directed to the heart. While watching with x-ray equipment, small amounts of dye are injected. This enables visualization of the heart arteries and chambers. The images and information that your cardiologist receives from the cardiac catheterization enable him or her to decide on the best method of treatment for you.
Instructions for your catheterization:
© Please notify our office before the procedure if you are allergic to anything, especially x-ray contrast dye or iodine. This is very important.
© Do not eat or drink anything after midnight (or 8 hours) prior to the procedure. Please take your morning medication with a small amount of water at your normally scheduled time, including blood pressure pills, Plavix, and aspirin.
© If you are on Coumadin, warfarin, or Jantoven, please notify us so that we can make adjustments in medications.
© If you are on diabetic medication or insulin, please notify us so that we can make adjustments in medications.
© Do not take any diuretics (water pills) on the day of the procedure. If your diuretic is combined with your blood pressure medication, you will take it as usual.
© You MUST have someone to drive you home – no driving for 24 hours after your procedure. If an intervention is performed, you will stay overnight in the hospital.
© You are not to do any heavy lifting (over 15 pounds), no squatting or crouching for at least a week following your catheterization. Additional discharge instructions will be given to you at the time of your procedure.