How do you determine where the IV is inserted arm, neck, or groin during cardiac catherization?

Question

I am schedule for a Cardiac Catherization due to an abnormality stress test, mild abnormal in the left ventricle.

Answer 1

Its not an IV (intravenous)
Its IA, intra arterial
If you are having a coronary angiogram, the artery is punctured
Most places do it via the femoral artery (groin)
Some do it via the radial (wrist)
The wrist is safer, and has less risk of complications, but may be painful. It depends on the experience of the operator
If they do it via the wrist artery, you might be able to go home in a couple of hours, and you can walk in and walk out of the cath lab

Answer 2

Almost 99% of cardiac cath procedures are done via the groin! Depending on circulation to one leg vs the other, the right groin is the preferred site because of the natural flow of the catheter into the heart vessels. Going through the left presents some difficulties because of how the main vessels on the left enter into the heart. Rarely a brachial site needs to be used. Radial sites are never used as their small diameter would not support the sheath introducer used (catheter is then guided through this larger diameter).

Answer 3

Cardiac catheterization involves passing a catheter (a thin flexible tube) into the right or left side of the heart. In general, this procedure is performed to obtain diagnostic information about the heart or its blood vessels or to provide treatment in certain types of heart conditions.

Cardiac catheterization can be used to determine pressure and blood flow in the heart's chambers, collect blood samples from the heart, and examine the arteries of the heart with an x-ray technique called fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy provides immediate ("real-time") visualization of the x-ray images on a screen and provides a permanent record of the procedure.

The catheter/sheath introducer is usually inserted through the right groin (right femoral area).

You will be given a mild sedative prior to the test to help you relax. An intravenous (IV) line is inserted into one of the blood vessels in your arm, neck, or groin after the site has been cleansed and numbed with a local anesthetic.

A catheter is then inserted through the IV and into your blood vessel. The catheter is carefully threaded into the heart using an x-ray machine that produces real-time pictures (fluoroscopy). Once the catheter is in place, contrast material is injected and pictures are taken.

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Based on the info you have presented, the cardiac catheterization procedure you will undergo is a left heart catheterization [LHC] with coronary angiography and left ventriculogam.
Since this procedure examines blood flow within the coronary arteries, pressure within the left ventricle and imaging of the left ventricle as it is contracting, the starting point will be entry into an artery, not a vein (therefore, IV - intravenous - is not applicable).

Briefly-
Traditionally, the procedure is initiated in the groin (the femoral approach), right or left; there is really no difference. Since most of the population is right-handed, cath lab suites are usually set up to allow right groin access and most cardiologist will enter the right groin, standing to the right of the patient. This allows easy access without having to bend over the patient, and their right hand dominance allows them to perform more efficiently (as opposed to standing to the left of the patient and having to use their left hand for most tasks).
If there are contraindications for using either groin site, other favorable sites include the brachial (just above the elbow on the inner arm) or radial arteries (just above the wrist) on either arm.
There are pros and cons to using each site.

The PREFERRED site will be up to your cardiologist - what he/she has the most experience doing (and therefore is most comfortable with) absent any contraindications known to exist that might prevent the use of a specific site.

If additional info is needed, please ask.

Answer 5

The doctor determines where to go depending on the size of your artery. I already have had about 3 cath labs through my left and right groins. Right side have been better side for the doctor. I ll have another done soon and doctor mentioned neck or wrists are options this time. Would like to know about pain afterwards on neck and wrist. What level could it be of pain!
Marusa/2015 March 15

Answer 6

The "catheter" is like an IV tube that they put in an artery. It is almost always done in the right femoral artery which is located in the groin area. Because it is a big artery, they have to hold pressure on it for quite a while when they take it out. They will also have you lie flat for a while to make sure that the site does not bleed.

Answer 7

Most are done in the groin they put you to sleep do the cath after wards in recovery they have to apply pressure to the area I think it's 30 or 60 minutes, that area will hurt and be sure to ask for pain meds cause you will need them in about 12 hours you start feeling like your old self again. The tough part is you have to lay still and not move like 12 hours... it's an ordeal. I wish you well!!

Answer 8

It depends on what artery the cardiologist doing the procedure has the most experience with, how large the vessel in question is, and what tests they anticipate doing. Usually we do it in the wrist (radial artery), but if it is small, we have to use the groin (femoral artery). In the U.S., the brachial artery at the elbow is rarely used unless the patient's circulation is horrible and a cutdown is necessary.

Answer 9

usually the catheter goes into the groin, like 9 times out of 10. exceptions to that would be if the vein was blocked or compromised in some way. it is a small incision in the groin for the catheter to be inserted, and then goes up to your heart to place the stent.

Answer 10

Well it's because it goes directly into the veins, which carries yer blood,and depends on how easy it is to find a good flow .As an addict i know from past experience that this isn't allways easy to acheive.You can use hot packs to help bring out the veins(hide when cold) good luck on yer surgery eh!peace all!