A right heart catheterization is a diagnostic procedure in which a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a vein, usually in the arm or neck, and guided through the veins into the right chambers of the heart and the pulmonary arteries. This procedure is used to measure pressure in the heart chambers and pulmonary arteries, assess cardiac output, and diagnose various forms of heart and lung diseases, particularly those affecting the pulmonary circulation.
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A right heart catheterization is a medical procedure in which a catheter is inserted through a vein into the right side of the heart and into the pulmonary arteries to measure pressure values and other hemodynamic parameters. It is performed to assess the function of the right heart, diagnose heart defects, and evaluate the condition of patients with heart failure or pulmonary hypertension.
Preparation for a right heart catheterization may include temporarily stopping certain medications, fasting for several hours before the procedure, and refraining from smoking or physical exertion on the day of the examination. Your doctor will give you specific instructions based on your individual health situation.
The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia, and many patients experience only mild discomfort or pressure when the catheter is placed. Pain is rare because the veins and the heart itself do not have pain receptors like the skin or muscle tissue.
Although it is a relatively safe procedure, the risks of right heart catheterization include bleeding or bruising at the insertion site, infections, rare cases of heart rhythm disturbances, or, in very rare cases, injuries to the vessels or the heart itself.
After the procedure, patients are usually kept in the hospital for a short time for monitoring to ensure that no complications occur. The results of the examination are analyzed and discussed with the patient to determine what further treatments or examinations may be necessary. Patients can usually go home the same day but should follow instructions for recovery at home and may need to attend follow-up appointments.
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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