What is Cardiac Catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization, also called an angiogram or coronary angiogram, is a minimally invasive procedure that allows your doctor to see detailed images of your heart and blood vessels. During the procedure, a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is carefully guided through a blood vessel in your wrist or groin and advanced to your heart. Once in position, a special contrast dye is injected through the catheter, making your coronary arteries visible on X-ray images. This provides your doctor with real-time, moving pictures of blood flow through your heart, revealing any blockages, narrowing, or other abnormalities that might be affecting your heart's function. While it sounds complex, cardiac catheterization is one of the most common and safest cardiac procedures performed today.
Why is it Performed?
Cardiac catheterization is performed to diagnose and evaluate various heart conditions. It's particularly valuable for detecting coronary artery disease, where plaque buildup narrows the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle. Your doctor may recommend this test if you're experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or other symptoms suggesting reduced blood flow to your heart, or if other tests like stress tests show abnormal results. The procedure can also assess how well your heart valves are working, measure pressure within the heart chambers, evaluate congenital heart defects, and determine the best treatment approach for your specific condition. In some cases, treatment can be performed during the same procedure, such as opening blocked arteries with a balloon (angioplasty) or placing a stent to keep the artery open.
What to Expect
You'll receive local anesthesia to numb the area where the catheter will be inserted, typically your wrist or groin. You may also receive mild sedation to help you relax, though you'll remain awake during the procedure so you can follow instructions like taking deep breaths or holding your breath. The procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes. You might feel a warm sensation when the contrast dye is injected, and you may be asked to cough or take deep breaths at certain points. After the catheter is removed, pressure will be applied to the insertion site to prevent bleeding, and you'll need to rest quietly for several hours. Most patients go home the same day, though some may stay overnight for observation. You'll have some restrictions on physical activity for a few days to allow the insertion site to heal properly.
Preparing for Your Test
Your doctor will provide specific instructions, but typically you should not eat or drink anything for 6 to 8 hours before the procedure. Continue taking most of your regular medications unless specifically instructed otherwise, but inform your doctor about all medications you're taking, especially blood thinners, diabetes medications, or supplements. You may need to temporarily stop certain medications before the procedure. Arrange for someone to drive you home, as you won't be able to drive yourself after receiving sedation. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and leave valuables at home. If you have allergies, particularly to contrast dye, iodine, shellfish, or latex, inform your healthcare team in advance. Your doctor may order blood tests before the procedure to check your kidney function and blood clotting ability.
Understanding Your Results
Your doctor will often discuss preliminary findings with you immediately after the procedure while the images are still fresh. The angiogram will show whether your coronary arteries are clear, partially blocked, or significantly narrowed. Based on these results, your doctor will recommend the most appropriate treatment plan, which might include lifestyle changes, medications, angioplasty with stent placement, or coronary artery bypass surgery. The detailed images from your catheterization become part of your medical record and help guide all future cardiac care decisions. If blockages were treated during the procedure, your doctor will explain what was done and provide instructions for recovery and ongoing management.
Have questions about cardiac catheterization? Our experienced cardiology team is here to help. Contact Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists & Primary Care at (203) 334-2100 to schedule your appointment or discuss any concerns.
