ClashPunk82
New member
I am booked for a cardiac cath tomorrow and wondered has anyone else had this done? I just wanna know what I should expect. Thanks guys!
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Cardiac Cath
- Thread starter ClashPunk82
- Start date
JennifersHope
New member
Hi Nicole,
I had one two years ago, it was not bad at all. It actually feels almost the exact same way getting a PICC line in feels. You go to same room at least at my hosptial, as where you get the PICC In as well.
THey give you a slight sedative... I had Valuim...but they gave it to me as they were wheeling me in, so it didn't have time to work. They shave your groin, prep it with cleaner, and numb you with a local. Then they insert the needle, and thread it through. I didn't feel anything weird after that.
They looked around.. unkinked one of my artries. and that was it. WHen they pull out the cath, they have to put a stress dressing on, holding a lot of pressure so that you don't bleed. They told me to lay flat on my back for a while, but since the sedative kicked in, I rolled to my side and started to bleed. I didn't know that until they woke me up yelling at me for moving..
Anyway, if you have been fine with PICC before you should be just fine...
Good luck
Jennifer
I had one two years ago, it was not bad at all. It actually feels almost the exact same way getting a PICC line in feels. You go to same room at least at my hosptial, as where you get the PICC In as well.
THey give you a slight sedative... I had Valuim...but they gave it to me as they were wheeling me in, so it didn't have time to work. They shave your groin, prep it with cleaner, and numb you with a local. Then they insert the needle, and thread it through. I didn't feel anything weird after that.
They looked around.. unkinked one of my artries. and that was it. WHen they pull out the cath, they have to put a stress dressing on, holding a lot of pressure so that you don't bleed. They told me to lay flat on my back for a while, but since the sedative kicked in, I rolled to my side and started to bleed. I didn't know that until they woke me up yelling at me for moving..
Anyway, if you have been fine with PICC before you should be just fine...
Good luck
Jennifer
Hi Nicole, I have had this done twice. This is what I went through as far as the procedure is done. First, you may be given a light sedative like Valium to relax you. I actually recommend this, I know that the docs do this several times and is routine to them, but it wasn't routine to me! I will admit that I was nervous the first time. Prior to being wheeled in, the nurses will prep you, shave some of your groin hair on both sides so that the doc can get to your femoral artery (or vein if they are doing just a right sided cath...the usually go for the artery if they are doing a left sided cath) It looks strange, I actually had a chucklel over it! There are also other vessels the docs can use, such as ones in the arm but they tend to go for the femoral vessels. The nurses also take vital signs and the doc usually pops in to explain the procedure and gives you the opportunity to ask questions.
The next step is to be wheeled into the cath suite. The nurses will drape you with sterile papers, only exposing the areas the doctor will work on. You will also be hooked up to electrodes to monitor your heart rate and function. Your blood pressure will also be monitored frequently. An IV will be started as well....I should add that prior to being cathed, you will more than likely get labs done to check out your potassium, magnesium, CBC and bleeding times so that if there are deficiencies, the doc will be able to correct them prior to the cath. The nurses also will set up a table with various cath cannulas and also IV dye solution.
In the suite, there will be a TV monitor and a machine called a fluroscopy so that the docs will be able to see where the cath is. You will be able to see the procedure if you want to, I was the curious type so I watched the whole thing. Once everything is totally set up (the actual set up takes longer than the cath itself) the doc will come in and start the procedure. First, the doc will numb the area he wants to cannulate, either the left or right femoral artery/vein (depending on what type of cath) It will sting a little bit at first and then you shouldn't feel a thing. At this point, the doc will ask if you would like some IV sedation, I got some Versed, some people get a touch of morphine to ease any discomfort. He or she will then cannulate your vessel with an introducer and then thread the guide wire in and then the catheter. Using fluroscopy, he then will carefully thread the catheter to your heart. If he is just cathing the right side, then he will be entering the heart via the vena cava. Many times, if the doc is just doing the right heart cath, he or she is looking to see what the pulmonary artery pressures are. It is the gold standard for looking for pulmonary artery pressures, he can also measure cardiac output as well. With left heart cath, the doc the doc can measure the ejection fraction as well as visualize the coronaries. With this type of cath, the doc will inject a dye into your heart...he or the nurses will warn you before they do this because you usually feel like you are peeing your pants and a very warm sensation will be felt. This sensation is very common. As I said before, you will be able to see everything on the screen if you want. Also, if you are having discomfort, please let the team know, they will give you meds to help you get more comfortable. The doctor will know immediately whether there is a problem with your heart or coronaries.
After the procedure is finished, there will be a pressure bandage (which is very tight) over the insertion site. Some institutions use differnt techniques as to how they keep pressure on the site (such as plugs) You will not be able to elevate your head for about 6 hours (at least that is what it was for me) and I was on bed rest for that period as well. I had to use a bedpan to urinate. The nurses will monitor your vital signs frequently. In my case, my pressures were low so the nurse dumped alot of fluids into me. They also wanted to flush out my kidneys as I received the dye that visualized my heart. So thanks to them, I was on the bedpan every hour. Prior to being discharged, the nurses made sure I was able to get up and walk. The pressure bandage was able to be removed the next day and yes I was a bit sore. The docs encouraged light activities, no heavy lifting for a few days after the procedure.
I hope I have helped, if you have any questions, please ask...Good luck with your cath! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
The next step is to be wheeled into the cath suite. The nurses will drape you with sterile papers, only exposing the areas the doctor will work on. You will also be hooked up to electrodes to monitor your heart rate and function. Your blood pressure will also be monitored frequently. An IV will be started as well....I should add that prior to being cathed, you will more than likely get labs done to check out your potassium, magnesium, CBC and bleeding times so that if there are deficiencies, the doc will be able to correct them prior to the cath. The nurses also will set up a table with various cath cannulas and also IV dye solution.
In the suite, there will be a TV monitor and a machine called a fluroscopy so that the docs will be able to see where the cath is. You will be able to see the procedure if you want to, I was the curious type so I watched the whole thing. Once everything is totally set up (the actual set up takes longer than the cath itself) the doc will come in and start the procedure. First, the doc will numb the area he wants to cannulate, either the left or right femoral artery/vein (depending on what type of cath) It will sting a little bit at first and then you shouldn't feel a thing. At this point, the doc will ask if you would like some IV sedation, I got some Versed, some people get a touch of morphine to ease any discomfort. He or she will then cannulate your vessel with an introducer and then thread the guide wire in and then the catheter. Using fluroscopy, he then will carefully thread the catheter to your heart. If he is just cathing the right side, then he will be entering the heart via the vena cava. Many times, if the doc is just doing the right heart cath, he or she is looking to see what the pulmonary artery pressures are. It is the gold standard for looking for pulmonary artery pressures, he can also measure cardiac output as well. With left heart cath, the doc the doc can measure the ejection fraction as well as visualize the coronaries. With this type of cath, the doc will inject a dye into your heart...he or the nurses will warn you before they do this because you usually feel like you are peeing your pants and a very warm sensation will be felt. This sensation is very common. As I said before, you will be able to see everything on the screen if you want. Also, if you are having discomfort, please let the team know, they will give you meds to help you get more comfortable. The doctor will know immediately whether there is a problem with your heart or coronaries.
After the procedure is finished, there will be a pressure bandage (which is very tight) over the insertion site. Some institutions use differnt techniques as to how they keep pressure on the site (such as plugs) You will not be able to elevate your head for about 6 hours (at least that is what it was for me) and I was on bed rest for that period as well. I had to use a bedpan to urinate. The nurses will monitor your vital signs frequently. In my case, my pressures were low so the nurse dumped alot of fluids into me. They also wanted to flush out my kidneys as I received the dye that visualized my heart. So thanks to them, I was on the bedpan every hour. Prior to being discharged, the nurses made sure I was able to get up and walk. The pressure bandage was able to be removed the next day and yes I was a bit sore. The docs encouraged light activities, no heavy lifting for a few days after the procedure.
I hope I have helped, if you have any questions, please ask...Good luck with your cath! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
ClashPunk82
New member
Thanks guys for the explanations it helped a lot. And Jane I am being evaluated for a lung TX and it's on the list of things to do. And I am going to Faulkner hospital. I live near Boston and thats where it is, I think <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> And I would explain but Jenn explianed it so well that I think you can get all the info from her post, lol. And I hope all goes well too I will update you guys when I can. But it's bedtime now I have to get up real early for this. So night everyone I'll post at somepoint tomorrow.
ClashPunk82
New member
Hey everyone. Just wanted to let you know how it went. It was so easy. I was really scared at first but once it was over I was like wow this wasn't bad at all. I'm so glad it's over with woo hoo! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">