What is cardiac catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization (heart cath or just cath) is the process of inserting a long tube known as a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart. This process is carried out for diagnostic as well as interventional purposes. Coronary catheterization is a common type of cardiac catheterization which involves the catheterization of the coronary arteries. This is done for checking any coronary artery disease or myocardial infarctions or as we know it, heart attacks. Catheterization is most often performed in special laboratories with fluoroscopy and highly adjustable tables. Various other diagnostic tests such as coronary angioplasty can then be carried out during this process.

One usually stays awake during the entire process. Medications of various kinds are given to calm the patients down and the time to recover from the process is also pretty fast. Moreover, the complications from this process are quite low.

In today’s busy world, everyone looks forward to getting cardiac catheterization nursing care at their homes. With the progress of technology, this wish is now a reality. Nowadays even processes like these are followed by a treatment which can be done at home with strict supervision and skilled personnel. One can easily be provided with a cardiac catheterization nursing care plan for their loved ones in their homes.

As said earlier, the process of cardiac catheterization is done to check for heart problems, or as a part of a procedure to correct a heart disease or heart problem.

Cardiac catheterization can be done to test a variety of medical problems which is why it is considered to be so versatile and helpful. Some of the uses on why cardiac catheterization is done are given below:

It helps to locate any narrowing or blockages in the blood vessels that could cause pain in the chest (angiogram).

It helps in measuring pressure and oxygen levels in different parts of the heart (hemodynamic assessment).

It checks the pumping ability of the heart (right or left ventriculogram).

One can even take a sample of tissue from the heart to carry out several tests. These are also known as biopsies.

Never the less, it can also assist in looking for problems with the valves of the heart.

Moreover, cardiac catheterization can also help doctors in treating various heart diseases in the following manner:

Doctors carry out angioplasty with or without stent placement which involves inserting and expanding a tiny balloon temporarily at the site of the blockage for spreading the narrow artery.

Damaged or leaking heart valves can be repaired and replaced using cardiac catheterization.

A process is known as balloon valvuloplasty which opens narrowed heart valves by sliding a balloon-tipped catheter to the part of the heart valve followed by inflating it can be done.

Heart arrhythmia treatment or ablation is a procedure used to treat heart rhythm problems using catheterization.

Using cardiac catheterization, doctors can even inject alcohol into the muscle to shrink any abnormally thickened heart muscle in patients.

Being an important medical procedure, one needs nursing care during cardiac catheterization. Also one must take care of a number of things before undergoing the same. Usually, the doctors tell their patients about the do’s and don’ts before the process is carried out. Some of the factors that are to be checked are:

One should not eat or drink anything for six to eight hours before the test. If the patient concerned has diabetes, it should be discussed with the doctor beforehand. Not eating can affect the blood sugar level which may need to be adjusted to the given insulin dosage.

If the patient is on any medication, the doctor might want them to stop taking them before the test, especially if it hampers the cardiac catheterization process in any way.

More often than not, blood tests and X-rays are done before the procedure to know of any cause that might hinder the entire process.

One should also be prepared for nursing care after cardiac catheterization which is quite important after such a vital medical procedure is carried out.

Care24 is a reputed brand when it comes to health care services at home. Thus, one may contact them when they need to undergo cardiac catheterization at their own home. With professional and well-trained nurses, one can easily decide a nursing care plan post cardiac catheterization. Therefore, one gets access to medical experts from the comfort of their own home.