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Cardiac Catheterization |
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Description |
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Small catheters are
inserted into an artery and/or vein close to the groin
and are advanced to the heart under x-ray guidance.
These catheters are used to inject dye into the coronary
arteries and the left ventricle while taking x-ray video
images, and to measure pressures in and around the heart
and the vessels of the lungs. The video images are used
to assess for narrowing (stenoses) within the coronary
arteries, and is referred to as Coronary Angiography.
Significant stenoses are primarily responsible for
episodes of chest discomfort (angina) but can sometimes
cause congestive heart failure, shortness of breath and heart attacks
(myocardial infarction). |
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Length |
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This test itself takes
typically less than 30 minutes. But including test
preparation and recovery, the entire process will take
4-6 hours to complete. |
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Preparation |
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Do not eat or drink
for 6-12 hours prior to the study. Unless otherwise
directed, you
should take all of your regular medications except diuretics and diabetic medications
(with only as much
water as needed to do so) the morning of the test. Please bring any medicines you take with you in their original bottles. |
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