What is Cardiac Catheterization? It is a procedure to examine how well your heart is working. A cardiologist places a thin, hollow tube (sheath) into an artery that leads to the patient’s heart. This will allow guide wires and catheters to be used. A contrast dye is injected through the catheter that can be seen on x-rays. This shows how the blood is flowing to the heart and any blockages or deformities. During the catheterization, the physician can attempt stent or balloon any narrowings that are seen, check the pressure in all four chambers of the heart, take blood samples to measure the oxygen content, and remove a small piece of heart tissue (biopsy) for examination. This procedure involves three steps including preoperative (before the
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During this time, the doctor will explain the procedure in detail along with what is expected of the patient. This consent will also require a witness (typically the nurse providing care for the patient). General instructions for the patient include but are not limited to the following: the patient should not drink or eat six to eight hours before the test, the patient should tell the doctor if he/she is allergic to seafood or any medications, had a reaction to contrast dye or iodine in the past, any medications he/she is currently taking, or if the patient may be pregnant. The patient will be awake and able to follow instructions during the procedure, but will have little to no discomfort during this …show more content…
At this time, stability of the patient should be established. The nurse will do vital signs, an ECG, monitor oxygenation level, urine output, and respiratory status. One of the most important things to monitor at this time is the peripheral vascular perfusion of the lower extremities. After the procedure, the sheath is removed the nurse will apply pressure for 15 to 20 minutes to form a clot/ stop the bleeding. This site will be closed with a suture or angioseal (collagen plug). Some institutions will allow the nurse to remove the sheath before being sent to the floor, but others require that the doctor remove it. Before removal, the nurse should assess the clotting time for the patient. Generally, vital signs and distal pulses should be taken every fifteen minutes X 4, every thirty minutes X 2, and every hour X2, then routine (every hour). If there is any change in the patient’s neurovascular status the physician should be notified
During this time, the doctor will explain the procedure in detail along with what is expected of the patient. This consent will also require a witness (typically the nurse providing care for the patient). General instructions for the patient include but are not limited to the following: the patient should not drink or eat six to eight hours before the test, the patient should tell the doctor if he/she is allergic to seafood or any medications, had a reaction to contrast dye or iodine in the past, any medications he/she is currently taking, or if the patient may be pregnant. The patient will be awake and able to follow instructions during the procedure, but will have little to no discomfort during this …show more content…
At this time, stability of the patient should be established. The nurse will do vital signs, an ECG, monitor oxygenation level, urine output, and respiratory status. One of the most important things to monitor at this time is the peripheral vascular perfusion of the lower extremities. After the procedure, the sheath is removed the nurse will apply pressure for 15 to 20 minutes to form a clot/ stop the bleeding. This site will be closed with a suture or angioseal (collagen plug). Some institutions will allow the nurse to remove the sheath before being sent to the floor, but others require that the doctor remove it. Before removal, the nurse should assess the clotting time for the patient. Generally, vital signs and distal pulses should be taken every fifteen minutes X 4, every thirty minutes X 2, and every hour X2, then routine (every hour). If there is any change in the patient’s neurovascular status the physician should be notified