A cardiac or heart catheterization can help to treat a variety of vascular conditions. It’s also used so that your Dayton, OH vascular specialist can get a glimpse into your heart and veins. The team at Buckeye Heart and Vascular Institute explains what it’s like to get a cardiac catheterization.
What is a Cardiac Catheterization?
This procedure can be an imaging procedure to diagnose various concerns, but it can also be used to treat conditions as well. The catheter is a long, thin, hollow tube. During a catheterization, it’s inserted into one of the large blood vessels that leads to your heart. Depending on why you’re getting the catheterization, it’ll either be used solely for imagery or as part of a procedure.
Cardiac Catheterization for Imaging
Cardiac catheterization can be used on its own or in conjunction with another procedure. For imaging, it’s often used with a coronary angiogram. Through the catheter, a dye is injected into your arteries. This dye is used to diagnose blocked arteries as it flows throughout your body. X-rays will be taken to see how the dye is traveling throughout arteries and if it gets blocked up at any point.
Catheterization is also used to get a general look at the heart and assess how it’s functioning. The heart chamber has various parts and it’s important to look at each one. We can determine the blood flow, pressure, or oxygen levels and see if there are discrepancies. If we suspect you have something like heart valve disease, catheterization can confirm our thoughts.
Cardiac Catheterization Treating Concerns
As with imaging, catheterization can be performed alone or with other procedures. Biopsies can be taken through the catheter to be tested and various heart defects can be taken care of. If you need to repair or replace a heart valve, that can be done through a catheter.
Angioplasty is a procedure that’s used to widen a narrow artery. The catheter helps to place a balloon to open the artery up, and a stent can be placed to lessen the chance of the artery reverting. A balloon valvuloplasty is a similar procedure. If your heart valve is stiff or narrow, the catheter is used to place a balloon to widen the valve.
Lastly, cardiac catheterization can be used with cardiac ablation. Ablation is used to treat issues with the heart rhythm. Depending on the issue, heat or cold energy is applied to the affected tissue. The electrical signal is redistributed to fix the signals that the damaged tissue was distributing.
Cardiac Catheterization at Your Dayton, Ohio Vascular Specialist
If we believe you should have a cardiac catheterization, it’ll be scheduled in a hospital. Many patients are able to leave on the same day. You aren’t put completely asleep, but sedation is used to help keep you comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure. You can return to normal life and activities in about a week.
If you think you need a heart or vascular checkup, call us or schedule an appointment online.