Cardiac catheterization takes place in a specialized
cardiac catheterization laboratory with an x-ray movie camera which takes images
of the heart from various angles. The heart and blood pressure will be monitored
throughout the procedure. The usual sites of entry are the groin area, the forearm,
of the wrist. The immediate skin area is numbed with a local anesthetic, which
is administered through a needle. This will feel like an initial pin prick as
the needle is inserted, and then a burning sensation as the anesthetic is injected.
Patient may also feel pressure when the catheter itself is inserted, and/or
exchanged with other catheters during the procedure. Once the initial needle
is inserted, a guide wire is passed through the needle and the needle itself
is removed. Next, a small plastic tube (catheter) is threaded over the wire
and guided through the vessel and into the chambers of the heart. This is done
under x-ray guidance. The catheter is connected to special equipment that records
pressures in the different heart chambers.
Patients will be awake throughout the procedure; in fact, the physicians will
require patients' cooperation at various times during the testing (exhale, cough,
hold your breath). Patients are usually sedated. When x-ray sensitive contrast
dye is injected, via catheter, into the bloodstream, patients may feel a warm
sensation and occasionally chest pain. Once the testing is complete, the catheters
will be removed and pressure will be applied for approximately 15 minutes. The
Cardiologist may elect to use a groin closure device if indicated (suture in
artery or collagen plug in the artery)