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Medical Video: New Route to the Heart - Mayo Clinic
The catheter procedure can be useful as a diagnostic tool as well as a form of treatment for certain types of heart disease. Some types of heart disease come from abnormalities in the heart's structure and may not be immediately visible. The catheter procedure gives the surgeon a detailed picture of the arteries to the heart and improves the problematic structure that results in irregular heartbeat, fatigue, and other potentially life-threatening symptoms.
What is cardiac catheterization?
Cardiac catheterization, or "heart cath," is a medical procedure that provides a very clear picture of the coronary artery. This procedure allows the doctor to determine the type of disease or disorder you are experiencing and, in some cases, to treat the problem.
A catheter is a thin and flexible tube, which is inserted into a blood vessel — usually in the groin, neck, or arm — and reaches the heart. The dye may be inserted into the catheter to help make blood vessels and arteries clearer.
Cardiac catheterization measures blood pressure, blood flow to the heart, and oxygen levels in the blood. The doctor may take a blood sample and biopsy the heart muscle during the procedure.
Procedure
Certain congenital heart abnormalities can be corrected through cardiac catheterization. The heart valve is fitted with a structure called leaflets, which makes it easier for blood to flow without sinking backward, away from the heart. Pulmonary valve stenosis is a condition in which the open valve is not as wide as it should be, which prevents blood from flowing sufficiently to the heart.
A small balloon-shaped device is attached to the tip of the catheter and is pumped in the narrowed part near the affected heart valve. Balloons push open leaflets to correct stenosis. Balloons are taken if a catheter is removed from a blood vessel.
Cardiac catheterization treats septal abnormalities, namely the hole between the atrium (side) of the heart. In this case, the catheter carries pieces like an umbrella and places the tool through the hole in the septum.
Even though you will wake up during the catheterization process, you will be sedated to keep you comfortable. The drug is given through the same intravenous line through the place where the catheter is installed, so that the procedure invades minimally. In most cases, the procedure will last between 30 minutes and 1 hour, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) expert.
Complications and recovery
The cardiovascular procedure is performed in a hospital, most commonly as an outpatient procedure. Preparations include fasting for at least 8 hours before catheterization.
Risks and complications are rare, but may include:
- Fluid accumulation between the heart and the outer layer
- Low blood pressure
- Allergic reactions to contrast dyes
- Blood clots or heavy bleeding
- Heart attack or stroke
- Irregular heartbeat
Recovery from short-term cardiac catheterization. You may need to lie on your back for several hours after the procedure. This is useful for preventing bleeding if a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin. The pain left in the area may be felt.
What is catheter ablation?
Catheter ablation is a procedure that is useful for treating certain types of cardiac arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeat or dysrhythmias. You may need catheter ablation if drugs cannot control arrhythmias or you are diagnosed with:
- Ventricular fibrillation: electrical activity in the irregular heart resulting in a life-threatening heart attack
- Ventricular tachycardia: a dangerous rapid heartbeat that reduces blood flow into the body
- Atrial fibrillation: a rapid heartbeat that arises due to additional electrical impulses
- Additional pathways: congenital conditions in which additional pathways appear between the atria and ventricles of the heart, causing irregular heartbeat patterns
The first step in catheter ablation is similar to cardiac catheterization. You will be sedated and the catheter will be inserted through the blood vessels. The main difference is that to cure, a catheter is useful for channeling high levels of energy into the heart. Energy is channeled to the heart area which causes certain types of arrhythmias and "rearranges" the heart's rhythm as before.
Catheter ablation is a very safe and effective procedure. This procedure may take up to 8 hours. During this time, your vital signs will be monitored continuously. The recovery time is most often between 1 and 6 hours and you just lie on the bed without moving your legs to prevent bleeding. You may experience unusual fatigue in the first few days after catheter ablation, along with a heartbeat that is sometimes missed. As you improve, your heart rate will become more organized.
