Heart catheterization is a procedure that is used to diagnose and treat heart conditions. Heart catheterization procedure involves inserting a catheter (a long and narrow tube) into an artery or a vein in your groin, arm or neck. This catheter is then threaded through to the blood vessels in your heart. An iodine based dye is then injected through this catheter and into the blood stream. Due to this dye, x ray fluoroscopy images can then be taken which are much clearer than the ones doctors get from other tests. You will have to do this following the steps given below before the heart catheterization takes place.
An intravenous line will be inserted into your hand in case you need additional medication during the heart catheterization. The area where the catheter is to be inserted will be shaved and then numbed, prior to the insertion.
Heart catheterization recovery usually takes several hours. You will be taken to a recovering room and once the catheter is removed, you will have to lie flat for one to six hours. This is to allow the artery to heal and to avoid serious bleeding. The few heart catheterization risks are:
Some other heart catheterization complications include difficulty in urinating after the test, pain and swelling at the site where the catheter was inserted and so on. Heart catheterization side effects are generally not very serious but patients who suffer from various medical problems should check with their doctor before under going the procedure.
The cost of heart catheterization will differ in each hospital. It is advisable to consult your doctor about the cost of the procedure. Before and after the heart catheterization test it is necessary that the patient keep the doctor well informed of their health.