Cardiac catheterization is a minimal invasive procedure used for a variety of purposes, including assessment of the coronary arteries for obstruction and narrowing, angioplasty and stenting, balloon septostomy, and balloon valvuloplasty.

Pre-Operative Details:

Your surgeon will give specific instructions before the surgery, including risks (i.e. bleeding, infection, adverse reaction to anesthesia, etc.).  Please make sure to contact your insurance company for coverage.  You will also meet with the anesthesiologist prior to the surgery to go over your medical history.  Please do not eat after midnight the night before your surgery.  On the day of surgery, you will arrive at the hospital, get registered, and get changed into a hospital gown.  A nurse will then review your chart to make sure there are no problems and then get all the paperwork in order for surgery.  The anesthesiologist will then start an IV and you will be taken to the operating room, where the surgeon will verify your name and procedure before any medication is given.  Once you are under local  anesthesia, surgery will begin.

Operative Details:

The surgeon will make a small incision in the groin area and insert a guidewire into the femoral artery.  Then he will insert a small hollow tube (catheter) over the guidewire and into the femoral artery to as a conduit.  Once gaining access through the arterial system, the surgeon can do a variety of procedures, as listed above.  To assess the coronary arteries for blockage, a catheter that has a hole at the top for dye release is guided up to the aorta near the aortic valve.  It is here that the coronary arteries come off, and then the surgeon will inject dye into the left and right coronary artery and see it on the monitor using a type of x-ray technique called fluoroscopy.  When the dye releases, it will show how blood flows and the surgeon will be able to see the areas of narrowing.  Once the procedure is complete, all catheters and guidewires are removed and the incision is closed with stitches.  

Post-Operative Details:

After the surgery, you will be taken to the post-operative/recovery area and be monitored. The length of your hospital stay depends on how quickly you are able to recover and perform some physical activity as well as your underlying disease status.  Please let your doctor know if you have any problems such as fevers, shortness of breath, an arm/leg that turns blue, bleeding/pain/drainage/redness/tenderness from the incision site  Your surgeon will give specific instructions about recovery time.  Please make sure to avoid lifting and showering for a couple days after the procedure.