| Heart catheterization
consists of inserting a small tube (a catheter) into a vein or
artery in the leg. This
catheter is then advanced into the heart to measure different pressures
and obtain blood samples. This is followed by the injection of a
dye that is used to obtain pictures of the heart’s anatomy
and blood vessels. After this diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedure
the catheters are removed. Diagnostic catheterization may be performed
in order to better understand your child’s
heart disease or to determine the optimal timing and type of cardiac
surgery
required
for your
child.
During catheterization, a number of interventions
may be performed and these will be explained to the family prior
to the procedure. These interventions might include treatment of
narrowed valves with balloon dilation (valvuloplasty), treatment
of narrowed vessels with balloon dilation (angioplasty) or stents,
closure
of abnormal connecting vessels with coils, or closure of abnormal
defects with devices.
If your child is scheduled for a catheterization please follow
these instructions:
- After midnight on the night prior to the procedure,
your child should not have any solid food or milk.
- Your child will be able to drink clear liquids
until three hours before the procedure, after which time he/she
must not have
anything
to eat or drink at all.
- You will be notified by mail or phone of exact feeding restrictions
and medication instructions.
What to expect
When you arrive, your child will be taken to the
preoperative holding area where you will speak with a cardiologist.
Your child wll then be taken to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
on the 2nd floor of Children's Hospital
and Research
Center at
Oakland.
You
can
accompany
your
child as far as the doors of the Laboratory.
An anesthesiologist will place an intravenous
line and give sedation medication. This keeps your child lightly
asleep so that he/she
is not afraid and experiences no pain during the procedure. Based
on the anesthesiologist’s assessment, general anesthesia
may be required. This possibility will be discussed with you prior
to the procedure.
The procedure generally lasts from two to four hours,
during which time you can wait in the 4th floor waiting room or
carry a hospital assigned pager. Afterwards your
child will
spend about one hour in the recovery room, and then will be admitted
to the ward for four to six hours or rarely overnight for observation.
You will have a conference with the cardiologist shortly after
the
procedure
is
completed
to discuss
results.
After the procedure, there may be some bruising in the leg for
around one week. Irritation such as rubbing of clothes may cause
small drops of blood over the catheterization site. This requires
no special treatment. Flow of blood from the site is abnormal.
If this should happen stop the flow with direct pressure at the
site and call the cardiologist immediately.
Your child may resume all regular activities, including bathing
and swimming, two days after discharge.
Call your cardiologist if:
- There is any persistent bleeding from the site.
- Local discomfort persists for more than 1-2 days.
- Any color change (pale or blue color) occurs in the leg.
- Increased redness, swelling, or discharge occurs at the site.
- If your child has a fever.
- If you have any other questions or concerns.
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