Right Heart Cath

Write down the correct date, time and location of your procedure.

Ask your healthcare provider if you need to stop using aspirin or any other prescribed or over-the-counter medicines before your procedure or surgery.

Bring your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines when you see your healthcare provider. Tell your provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Tell your provider if you use any herbs, food supplements or over-the-counter medicines.

You will get a contrast dye to show the parts of your heart more clearly. Tell the healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast dye. You may be given antihistamine medicine to help prevent a reaction to the dye.

Your healthcare provider may order blood or urine tests before your procedure. Talk to your healthcare provider about these or other tests you may need. Write down the date, time and location for each test.

Ask your healthcare providers about directions for eating and drinking.

Ask your healthcare provider before taking any medicine on the day of your procedure. These medicines include insulin, diabetes medicines, high blood pressure medicines or heart medicines. Bring a list of all the medicines you take, or your pill bottles, with you to the hospital.

You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives healthcare providers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.

Healthcare providers may insert an intravenous tube (IV) into your vein. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. Through the IV tube, you may be given liquids and medicine.

You will be given medicine to help you relax. You will receive local anesthesia that will numb the area where the catheter will be placed. You will be awake during the procedure so that your healthcare providers can give you instructions. You will need to let them know if you have any discomfort.

Your healthcare provider will insert a catheter into a vein in your arm, neck or leg and use an x-ray to carefully guide the catheter to your heart. A dye will be injected so the blood vessels, muscles or valves of your heart can be seen more clearly. You may get a warm feeling or slight nausea right after the dye is injected. This is normal, and will pass quickly. Your healthcare provider may remove a small sample of heart tissue and send it to a lab for testing. Your healthcare provider may also open a narrow or blocked heart valve or artery.

The catheter may be left in place to monitor pressure in your heart. When the catheter is removed, a healthcare provider will apply pressure to the incision site for at least 30 minutes to help decrease the risk of bleeding. A collagen plug or other closure devices may be used to close the site. Healthcare providers will cover the site with a pressure bandage or other pressure device to help stop any bleeding.

You will be taken to a room to rest until you are fully awake. Healthcare providers will monitor you closely for any problems. Do not get out of bed until your healthcare provider says it is okay. When your healthcare provider sees that you are okay, you will be taken to your hospital room. You may need to lie flat and keep your arm or leg straight for several hours. Arm or leg movement too soon can cause serious bleeding. Healthcare providers may ask you to drink more liquids to help flush the dye out of your body. If the catheter was in your groin and you need to cough, apply pressure over the area with your hands as directed.

• You cannot make it to your procedure.
• You have a fever.
• Your symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, get worse.
• You have questions or concerns about your procedure.

Seek Care Immediately If:

• You have any of the following signs of a heart attack:
  • Squeezing, pressure or pain in your chest
  • and any of the following:
  • Discomfort or pain in your back, neck, jaw, stomach or arm
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Lightheadedness or a sudden cold sweat

Generally, cardiac catheterization is safe and effective, but as in any medical procedure, there can be complications and serious ones are rare; less than 1 percent.

• Bruising and swelling at catheter site insertion
• Hematoma at catheter insertion site
• Infection
• Damage to artery
• Blood clots
• Kidney damage due to contrast used for imaging

• Bruising and swelling at catheter site insertion
• Treats heart attacks
• Analyzes heart disease
• Reduces the need for more invasive surgery