A heart catheter gives your cardiologist valuable information about your heart’s function and can even assist with procedures to open blocked arteries. At Advanced Heart Care Associates, which has a location in Henderson, Nevada, and two locations in Las Vegas, Nevada, board-certified cardiologists use heart catheterization for a variety of diagnostic and treatment procedures. Learn more about the procedure and what it can do by calling either Advanced Heart Care Associates office or by scheduling an appointment online today.
A heart catheter is a long, thin tube that reaches your heart via a large blood vessel. Your provider makes a small incision somewhere in your body, usually near the groin, to gain access to a blood vessel through which they can guide the catheter to your heart.
Cardiac catheterization, the procedure involving a heart catheter, helps with diagnosis and treatment purposes. It can give your provider information on how well your heart is working, and there are certain procedures they can perform using the catheter while it’s in place.
You’re awake for the entirety of the cardiac catheterization procedure, but you get a sedative and local anesthesia to keep you calm and prevent pain. Your provider discusses the results of your procedure with you after you spend some time in a recovery room.
There are numerous tests that your cardiologist can perform using a heart catheter, as well as various procedures and repairs. Advanced Heart Care Associates informs you of why you’re getting a heart catheter and the purposes the procedure will serve.
You can get a heart catheter to:
Before a cardiac catheterization for any purpose begins, your provider places electrodes on your chest to monitor your heart rate for the duration of the procedure and for some time after.
There are a few steps you must take to get ready for an upcoming heart catheter. You should follow all of your cardiologist’s advice in order to get the best possible outcome from your procedure.
Advanced Heart Care Associates recommends preparing for cardiac catheterization by:
Your recommendations may vary based on your personal health and the medications you take. After the procedure, you need to lay down flat for some time as the artery heals. You may need to spend a day or two in the hospital.
For more information on a heart catheter and what it can do, call Advanced Heart Care Associates or book an appointment online today.