Cardiac catheterization
If you’ve been diagnosed with coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease, surgery might not always be a preferred treatment option. Fortunately, there are alternatives.
At Advocate, our experienced physicians are here to perform diagnostic and interventional catheterizations along with coronary, vascular and peripheral interventions, including angioplasty and stent placements.
Our multi-disciplinary team includes some of the most experienced electrophysiologists, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in the region along with nurse practitioners who receive advanced cardiac training. We use minimally invasive diagnostic and interventional technology in our state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs. You’ll receive expert care before, during and after your visit.
What is cardiac catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization is a safe, non-surgical way for our heart specialists to diagnose a wide range of heart problems, including abnormal heart rhythms and structural problems with the heart's valves.
During this procedure, an interventional cardiologist inserts a catheter into a blood vessel through the groin, arm or neck to create images of your heart. We then can use diagnostic tests to reveal possible blockages and to determine the cause of your heart-related symptoms.
We also offer transradial cardiac catheterization – an innovative alternative to cardiac catheterization – that uses the wrist for catheter insertion instead of an artery. This procedure has less discomfort and reduced recovery time.
If these tests point to signs of coronary artery disease, your doctor may perform an interventional procedure, such as:
- Balloon angioplasty: Using the site where the cardiac catheter was inserted, we’ll thread a tiny deflated balloon through your blood vessel up to the blockage. We’ll inflate the balloon, pushing plaque against the blood vessel walls to create room for blood to flow more freely to your heart.
- Stent placement: After balloon angioplasty, we permanently place a small, metal-mesh tube in your coronary artery to keep it open.
- Septal closure devices: We use a wire mesh device made of nickel and titanium and filled with a polyester thread to non-surgically close defects in your atrial septum (the wall between the two top chambers of your heart).
- Atherectomy: If we find hardened plaque in your artery, we’ll use an atherectomy catheter to pulverize the plaque to make your artery flexible again.
Types of peripheral cardiovascular procedures
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD), involves damage to or blockage in the blood vessels located away from your heart, including those that supply blood to your head, neck, brain, abdomen and legs. The first line of prevention is making lifestyle changes to lower your risk for heart disease and stroke. If these measures don’t work, then your doctor may recommend invasive procedures.
Diagnostic peripheral procedures
- Angiography: This test uses X-rays and dye to reveal possible blockages.
Interventional peripheral procedures
- Balloon angioplasty: Using the site where the cardiac catheter was inserted, we’ll thread a tiny deflated balloon through the blood vessel up to the blockage. The balloon inflates, pushing plaque against the blood vessel walls and creating room for more blood to flow freely to the heart muscle.
- Balloon angioplasty with stent: We’ll place a stent – a small, metal-mesh tube – within a coronary artery after balloon angioplasty to keep the blood vessel open. The stent remains inside the artery.
- Peripheral atherectomy: If hardened plaque is found in an artery, an atherectomy catheter can help pulverize the plaque so the artery can be flexible again.
- Peripheral laser atherectomy: We guide a catheter that emits laser energy through your vessel until it reaches the blockage to vaporize the blockage and increase your blood flow.
Types of electrophysiology procedures
Our specialists perform a range of advanced procedures in our catheterization labs to monitor, manage and, when necessary, correct the electrical impulses that create your heartbeat.
These include:
- Arrhythmia monitoring (loop recorders)
- Cardiac ablations
- Implantable cardioverter defibrillator
- Left atrial appendage closure
- Permanent pacemaker implants
- Remote heart monitoring
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy
Prior to the cardiac catheterization procedure, you’ll receive personalized guidance to prepare. This may include:
- Not eating or drinking after midnight the night before the procedure
- Any medications you may need to stop taking
- Answering your questions and concerns
Cardiac catheterization takes about one to two hours. You’ll be awake during the procedure. You may receive a mild sedative to help you relax and an IV line to give you fluids.
After numbing the area, your doctor will gently thread a catheter into your wrist or groin.
Once the catheter is inserted into your heart, you may feel your heart skip a beat or possibly beat faster. This is normal and caused by the catheter in your heart. We’ll closely monitor your heart rhythm, but if you feel any discomfort or chest pain during the procedure, let your medical team know right away.
Once the catheter reaches your left ventricle or main pumping chamber, we’ll inject a contrast dye through the catheter and begin taking pictures of your heart. We may ask you to take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds so we can get a clearer picture of your heart.
To thoroughly study each main coronary artery, our specialists may insert and remove different catheters through your insertion site. We may take several pictures from different angles. We may ask for your help by asking you to cough. This clears the dye from your coronary arteries.
After the procedure, you’ll be monitored for four to eight hours. Once we’ve applied a dressing at the catheter insertion site, you’ll return to your hospital room. If the procedure was done on an outpatient basis, you’ll be in a recovery room.
We’ll check your blood pressure, pulse and catheter insertion site frequently. You’ll receive specific instructions on how long to remain in bed and how much you can move the arm or leg where the catheter was inserted.
You may be encouraged to drink fluids that will make you urinate more frequently. This will help your body eliminate the dye used during the test. Let us know if you feel any discomfort at the catheter insertion site and we’ll make you as comfortable as possible with pain medication or other treatment.
Once your doctor has reviewed the images taken during your catheterization, they’ll discuss the results with you, including any further treatment if needed.
Why choose Advocate Heart Institute for cardiac catheterization?
At Advocate Heart Institute, you can feel confident with our expert cardiology care. Together, our large, multidisciplinary team of specialists offer unmatched:
- Experience: We have one of the top cardiac programs in the U.S. Performing more than 20,000 procedures every year, our cardiology teams have experience with all types of procedures and all types of conditions.
- Quality: Our safety-first culture permeates everything we do. We participate in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry that benchmarks our outcomes against other programs. Our high ratings mean fewer complications and better results.
- Teamwork: Working closely together, our cardiologists, surgeons, electrophysiologists and other specialists develop a customized treatment plan that’s just right for you.
- Technology: We offer the latest programs and treatments that you may not find elsewhere in the area. Cardiology technology changes rapidly, and we continuously upgrade our equipment and learn the latest, most advanced techniques. And we participate in cutting-edge research and clinical trials to ensure access to the newest innovations.
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