What is a left heart catheterization?
During a left cardiac catheterization, a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into the left side of the heart. It is carried out in order to identify or treat specific cardiac conditions.
Dr. Leandro Perez explains the purpose of a cardiac catheterization and what you can expect during the procedure.
Why is it done?
This test is carried out in order to detect:
Tumors of the heart
Heart defects (such as ventricular septal defects)
Heart-related complications
The treatment can also be used to assess and potentially repair some types of cardiac abnormalities, as well as to open a restricted heart valve.
When combined with coronary angiography, which examines the arteries that supply the heart muscle, this treatment can unblock blocked arteries or bypass grafts. This might be due to a heart attack or angina pectoris.
In addition, the method may be used to:
Take blood samples from the heart.
Determine the heart's chamber pressure and blood flow.
Take x-rays of the heart's left ventricle (the primary pumping chamber) (ventriculography)
What can you expect during the test?
Before the procedure begins, you may be given a mild sedative. The medicine's purpose is to help you relax. An IV will be inserted into your arm to provide medications. You'll be lying down on a cushioned table. A tiny puncture will be made on your body by your doctor. The artery is inserted via a flexible tube (catheter). It'll be inserted into your wrist, arm, or upper leg (groin). During the process, you will most likely be awake.
The catheters are guided up into your heart and arteries using live x-ray images. Your body will be injected with dye (also known as "contrast"). This dye will make blood flow via the arteries more visible. This aids in the detection of blockages in the blood veins leading to your heart.
The catheter is then inserted into the left side of your heart, passing through the aortic valve. In this posture, the heart pressure is measured. Other procedures that can be performed at this time include:
Ventriculography to examines the heart's pumping activity.
Coronary angiography to examines the coronary arteries.
Angioplasty, with or without stenting, to clear blockages in the arteries.
The treatment might last anything from a few minutes to many hours.
How to prepare for a left heart catheterization?
You should not eat or drink for at least 8 hours before the test. (Different directions may be given specific to you.)
Your doctor will go through the procedure and its risks with you. A permission form must be signed.
After the procedure
After the treatment, you'll most likely spend several hours in a recovery room as the sedative wears off.
A technician or nurse will apply pressure to the insertion sites once your catheter is withdrawn. You may need to lie flat for many hours following the treatment if the catheter was inserted in the groin area to avoid significant bleeding and enable the artery to heal.
The length of your recovery is determined by your overall health and the reason for the catheterization.
For a few days, the region where the catheter was put may be painful. If you experience any bleeding, new or increased edema, or pain at or around the access site, call your doctor.
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