Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure in which a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted through the blood vessels to the heart to diagnose and treat heart diseases. Contrast agents can be injected and X-ray images taken to visualize the coronary arteries and identify narrowings or blockages, which is often used to assess angina pectoris and other coronary artery diseases.
Do you have any questions about our heart and vascular examinations? Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions. If you have any further questions, please contact us here.
A cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the heart to diagnose and treat heart and vascular diseases. It is typically performed to check the condition of the coronary arteries, measure heart chamber pressures, and perform interventions such as inserting stents.
Fasting for at least six hours is often required before the procedure, and it may be necessary to temporarily stop taking certain medications. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on which medications to take or avoid and whether you need to make any special preparations.
The insertion of the catheter is done under local anesthesia, so the procedure is usually not painful. However, patients may experience a feeling of pressure or discomfort when the catheter is moved or the contrast agent is injected.
Although cardiac catheterization is generally considered safe, it carries risks such as bleeding, blood vessel injury, heart rhythm disturbances, allergic reactions to the contrast agent, and in very rare cases, a heart attack or stroke. The risks vary depending on the patient’s health condition and the complexity of the procedure.
A cardiac catheterization typically takes between 30 minutes and several hours, depending on the complexity of the procedure. After the examination, patients usually have to stay for observation for a few hours to ensure that no complications such as post-procedural bleeding occur. The results are discussed with the patient and, if necessary, with other attending physicians to plan the next steps in treatment.
Wir bieten eine Vielzahl weiterer Untersuchungen an, um ein umfassendes Bild Ihrer kardiovaskulären Gesundheit zu erhalten. Diese Untersuchungen helfen uns, individuelle Behandlungspläne zu erstellen und Ihre Herzgesundheit optimal zu fördern.
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