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Purpose of Catheterization

• To verify the severity and occurring position of cardiac and vascular diseases, leading to a more precise diagnosis of the disease and helping patients receive the correct medical treatment.
• Clearly understand the impact level of disease on the myocardial structure and function.
• Obtain precise and detailed information before heart surgery for a more successful operation.
• Understand the problem with coronary arteries more clearly.

Pre- Catheterization Instructions 

• Complete the informed consent.
• Blood drawing test and ECG may be required before catheterization.
• Intravenous injection or needle may be inserted for temporary use, if necessary.
• Patients may need to shave the hair on inguinal area of the two sides (groin) prior to the catheterization, if necessary.  
• Follow physician instruction and fasting may be required before the catheterization (including food and water) for at least 4 hours.
• Change into surgical gown on the day of catheterization (wearing front).
• Do not wear makeup before catheterization, do not wear underwear and pants, and take off denture, contact lenses, prosthesis, money, and ornaments temporarily, if any. Moreover, do not apply lipstick and nail polish in order to evaluate the condition of blood circulation.
• Please deplete the bladder before taking catheterization at the cardiac catheterization room, since you may not move the body during the examination.
• The nurses will prepare the nursing pad and place it under your hip. You may urinate easily if you desire to urinate during catheterization.
• Under rare circumstances, the physician may help you with urethral catheterization if you have difficulty urinating while lying down in the surgery. 

Catheterization Process

• The nurses will help you relocate to the examination platform. Please follow the instructions and lie down at proper position. Do not turn over or move without authorization to avoid falling and other unexpected risks.
• The physician will sterilize your skin at the groin, arm and wrist. Please inform the nurses if you perceive burning or tingling skin to avoid infection and other risks. 

Post- Catheterization Instruction

Catheterization via femoral artery/vein (groin):

• The area for inserting catheter must be stretched and non-bending. The other parts of the body may move freely.  After the catheter has completely been removed, use 2KG sandbag to compress and stanch bleeding for 6~8 hours. The patients need to lie down for 12 hours in order to help the internal blood vessels with complete healing, thereby preventing bleeding and hematoma. Do not get off the bed while lying in bed.
• Intense vital signs monitoring: including blood pressure, pulse, and if the skin temperature of catheterized area and Dorsalis pedis artery are symmetrical or disappearing. Note if the area is swelling, aching and bleeding.
• Use bed pen or diaper for urination. The nurses will help patients with urethral catheterization if the patients have problems urinating.

Catheterization via radial artery (hand): 

• Compress the area inserted with catheter using 2 layers of tape and stanch bleeding.
• After short period of lying in bed and rest, the patients may get out of bed and move if they do not experience any discomfort.
• Do not apply force, lift heavy objects, bend inwards, or wring the towel in 3 days after the catheterization of inserting catheter into the waist, to prevent bleeding and swelling of internal blood vessels.
• Intense vital signs monitoring: including blood pressure, pulse, and bleeding on the area of catheterization, skin temperature, and color change.
• Keep the pierced wound clean and dry. Do not wet with water directly under the wound is fully healed to prevent infection.

Please note the follows:

• The patients can eat after the catheterization and need to drink a lot of water in order to help eliminating the contrast media from the body, including but not limited to patients restricted for water consumption.
• After completing the cardia catheterization, please inform the nurses immediately in case of the following situations: chest tightness, chest pain, obstructed breathing, hot and wet wound of catheterization, bleeding, pain, cold peripheral skin, and tingling sensation.

Possible Complications

• The probability of mortality from complications of diagnostic cardiac catheterization is smaller than 0.001 and the mortality rate from balloon angioplasty of the coronary artery is smaller than 0.01.
• Complications are related to the severity of the patients’ illness, including: medicinal allergy, partial wound bleeding and hematoma, arrhythmia, low blood pressure, angina pectoris, shock, acute renal failure, acute pulmonary edema, coronary artery dissection, vasospasm, acute myocardial infarction, vascular or myocardial rupture, stroke, and death.