I have to get a heart cath. I'm uneasy about how everything is done. How do they numb you?You can't move any?

Answer 1

A Cardio Cath is a procedure to to evaulate electrical function throughout the heart. Before the procedure, you will be prepped by nurses and then you will be laid down flat on a table. Usually, you are given local anesthesia where the incision is made in a major vein in the leg near the groin area, however, you are supposed to remain very still, sometimes a general sedation will be given. Afterwards a small incision is made and a catheter is guided up to the heart where the rest of the procedure is completed. This is a very common procedure and the risks are very minimal.

Answer 2

This is how they are done at our hospital:

You would be brought to a holding area and told to dress in a gown. An IV is started, blood samples may or may not be drawn (depending on your Doc's specific orders).

Once they are ready to bring you back into the cath lab, you are given some medicine to help you relax. You are usually awake during the procedure, some people are sleeping off and on. General anesthesia is generally not used for a heart cath.

Once you are on the cath table, the cardiologist will put some numbing medicine (usually lidocaine) to numb your groin area. That is all you will feel, a little sting, like when you get a cavity filled.

Once that is done, the doctor will make a very small incision so that he/she may place a sheath (kind of like a large sized IV tube) in your femoral (leg) artery. Sometimes they use an artery in your arm, but most commonly it is the leg.

After this is done, the doctor will place a tube up to your heart so he/she may inject dye into your coronary arteries. A big x-ray camera is over your chest and there are computer monitors to see the pictures on. It is actually really cool!

Most patients don't really remember too much, because they are sleepy. The procedure takes only about 20 minutes, unless they find blockages, then it will take additional time to fix those areas.

After the procedure is done, the sheath is removed from the groin and you have to lay with your leg straight until the groin artery is stable for you to move around. The "flat time" can be anywhere from 1 hour to 6 hours. It really varies depending on the doctor and how he closes the artery.

Some use "closure devices" some do not. Ask your doctor about that if you are worried about having to lay still. You can move your other leg, your arms, and some doctors will let you raise the head of your bed about 30 degrees.

Overall, it's a pretty safe and routine procedure! Good Luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I had one a year ago and I was nervous too. They numb your groin area because that is where they most likely will insert the catheter. They give you an anesthesia so you don't feel the catheter. The procedure is painless and the anesthesiologist talked to me and I got to watch some of it on the screens they had in the room. It really wasn't as bad as I was thinking it would be. Good luck and don't worry too much ( I know it will be hard not to worry about it) I was able to talk the whole time and walk after a few hours. they don't want you to move due to the incision in your leg they want that to close up first. I was a little sore at the groin but other than that I was great I was able to joke and everything. You will be fine it'll be over quicker than you know it!

Answer 4

I have had 4 caths. a stent was put in by cath once. Every time they had me heavely sedated, an a sleep.
I don't think you need to worry. You will have bruiseing in thwe groin where tyey insert the cath tube.
As the other person said YOUR Dr. is the answer man, talk with him an let him know if you are scared,
JIm
7 waybypass Dec.05
1 stent Dec.06

Answer 5

You have the option of recieving a local anesthetic, or of being sedated. After they procedure, you need to lay flat and with a weight on the insertion site, usually the left groin, for six to eight hours. Discuss this stuff with the doctor before signing consent for the procedure.

Answer 6

They can sedate you..should not be a problem.You will do fine.You only feel a pinch when they enter catheter near groin area.

Answer 7

they would probably give you versed to make you go to your happy place. and since you'll be at your happy place, you'll be too out of it to move. FYI: they strap you in when you're going under the knife, so if you're afraid of moving, have no fear.

it's the pain after the surgery that's going to make you uncomfortable so be sure to ask for pain medication when you are due for it.

Answer 8

Big deal, I've had five already. You'll be home the next day unless they do an angioplasty.

Answer 9

write down your questions and have them answered by your cardiologist BEFORE the surgery.

Answer 10

angioplasty