Cardiac Catheterization & Stenting

Heart Checkups in LA County

A cardiac catheterization (cardiac cath) procedure is used to examine your heart and check for damage and signs of heart disease. These are very common, safe procedures for patients who have recently experienced a cardiac event or suffer from chest pains.

During a cardiac cath, a doctor can:

• Check pressure in the heart valves
• See how your heart is pumping
• Take a tissue sample from the heart
• Take blood samples and measure oxygen levels
• Look for visible muscle and tissue damage
• Look for blood clots and narrowed blood vessels

What to Expect

This is a form of surgery, and it is natural to feel nervous, but you can take comfort in knowing that these are very safe procedures with minimal risk. When you arrive at the hospital for the procedure, someone will measure your blood pressure and check your pulse. A sedative will be administered through an IV, but you will remain awake during the procedure. The doctor may even have you view the heart through a monitor connected to the catheter's camera, which many patients find helpful. A small puncture is made in the skin and a blood vessel through which the catheter is inserted. The doctor guides the catheter to the heart, examines the area, and performs further procedures as needed.

Stenting

The catheter used during a cardiac cath may be outfitted with various instruments so that the doctor can treat certain conditions discovered during the operation. One of the most common cardiac procedures is called stenting.

Stents are often used to treat:

• Coronary artery disease
• Aneurysms
• Carotid artery disease
• Blood clots
• Atherosclerosis

Your blood vessels need to stay wide open for blood to efficiently travel to and from the heart. Cholesterol, high blood pressure, and fat can build up a substance referred to as arterial plaque that lines the arteries and narrows blood vessels. Stenting is a treatment for this condition wherein a small, mesh tube is placed in the vessel to widen it. Stenting can be done on its own or placed after an angioplasty, which is a procedure that removes plaque or forces the vessel to widen before it is then held in place with the stent.

After the Procedure

When the cardiac cath and stenting is finished, you are usually free to return home unless the doctor finds something that requires immediate attention. The procedure is minimally invasive, meaning you should be able to resume normal activities without a lengthy recovery. Be sure to keep an eye on the area the doctor punctured in case it starts to bleed or tingle. Though rare, call your doctor if you notice any irregularities.

USC Arcadia Hospital offers cardiac catheterization and stenting in our state-of-the-art cardiology department. Our Heart Care program is acknowledged as a Center of Excellence by the American Heart Association.

For more information on our Cardiology Program, contact our team directly at 626-898-8845.