Cardiac Catheterization

What’s cardiac catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is an invasive, nonsurgical procedure that assesses any plaque buildup in the arteries of your heart, evaluates your heart’s pumping function, and obtains oxygenation and pressure readings.

What happens during the procedure?

Once you’re mildly sedated, Dr. Bokhari inserts a catheter into an artery or vein in your arm, groin, or neck then through blood vessels to your heart.  The catheter allows him to run diagnostic tests and observe any arterial narrowing on a large X-ray monitor.  Most patients report little, if any, discomfort during the procedure.

What are the risks?

Like most cardiovascular procedures, cardiac catheterization may cause side effects or complications. While severe complications are rare, the following are possible:

• Allergic reactions to dye or medication
• Arterial damage where the catheter was inserted
• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Bruising
• Heart attack
• Infection
• Irregular heartbeat
• Kidney damage
• Stroke
• Torn artery or heart tissue

What do the results tell me?

After cardiac catheterization, Dr. Bokhari explains your results. If you’ve had a coronary angiogram, results could reveal the need for angioplasty, a stent, or a more significant open heart procedure called coronary bypass surgery. The procedure may also reveal angioplasty as an effective treatment for a narrowed artery. In some cases, this is performed immediately to prevent the need for an additional cardiac catheterization.

What’s percutaneous coronary intervention?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a minimally invasive, nonsurgical procedure that unblocks narrowed arteries of the heart. It uses balloon angioplasty and/or a stent and serves as an alternative to open heart surgery. In can be performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis, and most people tolerate it well with minimal, if any, need for downtime.  

What are the risks?

Severe complications of PCI aren’t common, but it does raise risks similar to those of cardiac catheterization, including allergic reactions, bleeding, blood vessel damage, heartbeat irregularities, heart attack, or stroke. Your risks are higher if you’re older, have chronic kidney disease, extensive heart disease, or heart failure.