What Happens After a Cardiac Catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization is a widely used procedure that helps doctors evaluate the health of your heart and identify possible issues with its function. While this procedure is commonly performed, understanding what happens afterward can help you prepare. Here’s an outline of what patients can expect after a cardiac catheterization, with insights into how the results are used to guide further care:
What Is a Cardiac Catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic and sometimes therapeutic procedure that helps assess the heart’s overall health, focusing on plaque buildup and oxygenation of the blood. During this procedure, a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is gently guided through a blood vessel. Catheters often starting in the wrist or groin, then are moved toward the heart.
This allows medical professionals to evaluate the heart, measure oxygen levels and pressure, and observe how well the heart pumps. Coronary arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the heart, are checked for plaque buildup. This technique also helps doctors decide if further interventions like angioplasty or stents are needed to restore blood flow to the heart.
Risks To Be Aware Of
While cardiac catheterization is seen as low-risk, some potential complications can occur. Your care team will closely monitor you to mitigate these risks. These risks include:
- Arterial damage
- Bleeding or blood clots
- Infection
- Irregular heartbeat
- Kidney damage
- Stroke or heart attack
What Happens After?
Recovering after this catheterization can vary depending on the specific procedure performed and your overall health. The results of a cardiac catheterization provide key insights into your heart’s condition. These results often help determine the next steps in your care plan and may include:
- Presence of Plaque Buildup: If plaque restricts blood flow, the procedure identifies the location and extent of the narrowing, offering your doctor a clear picture of the issue.
- Heart Pumping Function: Evaluating how well your heart pumps blood can provide valuable information on how efficiently your heart is working. This is measured by observing blood movement and pressure changes during the procedure.
- Oxygen Levels and Pressure Readings: By measuring oxygen and pressure levels within different chambers of the heart, the procedure provides a deeper understanding of your heart’s function.
Additional Procedures
Depending on the findings of your catheterization, additional procedures may be recommended. If a narrowed artery is identified, your care team may determine that angioplasty is the best option. This minimally invasive procedure uses a balloon to open the artery and restore normal blood flow. A stent, or small mesh tube, may also be placed to keep the artery open.
If the blockage is more severe, the results could indicate the need for coronary bypass surgery, a more comprehensive procedure that reroutes blood flow around the blocked artery. Sometimes, angioplasty is performed right away during the catheterization to address a narrowing immediately, avoiding the need for another procedure. Your doctor will provide instructions on activity levels, medications, and follow-up appointments to help you have a smooth recovery.
Learn More About Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a fundamental procedure that provides key information about your heart and helps chart a course for treatment if needed. Knowing what to expect before and after a procedure can provide clarity. If you or a loved one is preparing for or recovering from a catheterization, reach out to a healthcare provider today to address any additional questions and to build a care plan together.
