Cardiac Catheter - Process

The procedure is typically undertaken in a cardiac catheter laboratory. Only local anaesthesia at the point of catheter insertion is necessary. Access to the artery is achieved through a left heart catheter inserted, in most cases, into the groin area via the arteria femoralis or alternatively into the crook of the arm via the arteria radialis.

The predetermined access point is disinfected and your body is covered with sterile cloths. After the local anaesthetic has been administered, the artery is located with a thin needle housed in a plastic tube. The needle is removed and an elastic guidance tube is introduced via the cannula. The cannula is subsequently removed and the catheter can be inserted. Using radiographic monitoring, the catheter can be pushed forward to the outflows of the coronary blood vessels at the heart. The monitor display allows the doctor to follow the exact location of the catheter.3,5 Because there are no pain receptors inside blood vessels, you will feel nothing during the examination.

After the administration of the contrast agent through the catheter, pumping function and blood pressure can be checked and the coronary blood vessels along with the point(s) of constriction can be displayed.⁸

X-rays made during the course of the examination are saved to computer and film. In this way, a visual representation of constrictions in the blood vessels can be reproduced at the press of a button. For the expansion of constricted blood vessels, a new catheter is introduced. The tip of this catheter contains a small, inflatable balloon. The catheter is pushed forward to the point of constriction and the balloon is subsequently pumped up with a diluted contrastive agent under high pressure. The balloon presses the life-threatening blood vessel deposits against the wall. Pumping up the balloon can cause temporary sensations of tightness in the chest. After the balloon has been emptied, it is removed after about 30-60 seconds. If balloon dilatation alone does not adequately increase the diameter of the blood vessels or there is the risk of renewed constriction, a blood vessel support (stent) can be set in place. The stent, which is collapsed to the smallest possible diameter, is transported via catheter to the affected spot and unfolded. With time, the stent grows into the blood vessel wall and generally holds it open for a long period of time.1
After completion of the examination, the catheter is removed and a firm compression bandage is applied. The contrast agent is pumped into circulation by the heart within a short period of time and is filtered out of the body by the kidneys.^1,8

Please speak about the treatment process in greater detail with the doctor who is treating you.