Cardiac catheterization - its importance and purpose
Cardiac catheterization - its importance and purpose
A brief history of cardiac catheterization:
It is a surgical operation that is performed to treat the problems of blockage of the valves and arteries of the heart that are responsible for transporting blood to and from the heart and the various organs of the body. complications afterwards.
The cardiac catheterization process is done by inserting a thin tube that is directed into the blood vessels of the arm or thigh to the coronary artery of the heart muscle, while taking an x-ray of that area to determine the problem.
- Using a waxy substance called "plaque" to identify and diagnose the point of arterial blockage.
- Through cardiac catheterization, an evaluation of the heart muscle and its functions is performed, as well as an evaluation of the efficiency of the heart valves through catheterization.
- Cardiac catheterization enables the attending physician to examine the possibility of therapeutic intervention to solve the problem of blockage of the valves and arteries feeding the heart.
- The catheter allows the attending physician to know the percentage of oxygen present in the chambers of the heart. Also, the catheter has a major role in discovering congenital defects in the heart valves that have been present since birth.
- Through cardiac catheterization, a sample of heart tissue can be taken for microscopic examination to accurately determine the cause of the problem.
How cardiac catheterization works:
- First, the place where the catheter was inserted is given local anesthesia.
- After that, the catheter tube, which is a thin tube from inside the thigh or arm, is inserted through the blood vessels to reach the heart. When the catheter has reached the specified place, a specific substance is injected to show the coronary arteries feeding the heart.
- After the above procedure, x-rays are taken of the location of the problem for evaluation, and this process is called diagnostic catheterization of the heart.
Interventional cardiac catheterization:
This procedure is
Purpose of cardiac catheterization:
done by placing a heart stent during the catheterization process to widen the arteries to allow normal blood flow. This procedure can be done after the diagnostic catheterization of the heart.
Preparatory procedures before cardiac catheterization:
- Refrain from eating and drinking for at least four hours before the cardiac catheterization.
- Removing jewelry and metal objects from the body, especially those close to the chest area.
- Complete relaxation before catheterization and avoid stress or fear of catheterization.
- Talk to the doctor about the medications that the patient uses and continues to use before the catheterization procedure, and also tell the anesthesiologist about that.
- Carrying out the necessary examinations before performing the catheterization procedure
