If your doctor suspects that you have problems with your heart, a catheterization procedure may be recommended as part of the diagnostic process. Dr. Atif Sohail of Heart & Sleep Clinics of America in Arlington, TX, offers cardiac catheterization procedures for residents of Arlington, TX.
What is a Heart Catheterization?
A heart catheterization procedure involves inserting a thin, hollow tube into one of the main blood vessels that leads to your heart. The catheter allows Dr. Sohail to evaluate your heart function. He may also perform a coronary angiogram during the procedure.
Why is a Heart Catheterization Needed?
Cardiac catheterization procedures for Arlington, TX, residents are intended to determine how well your heart functions. The results of the procedure are used to determine if there are problems with the arteries, muscles, and valves of your heart. Dr. Sohail is also able to measure the flow and pressure of the blood as it moves through your heart. A coronary angiogram is used to locate any blockages in your heart.
Heart Catheterization Procedure
The heart catheterization procedure is performed in a surgery center using general, intravenous, or local anesthesia. A small incision is made in your skin and into the blood vessel. The catheter is inserted through the incision and fed along the vessel to your heart. The catheter has a camera that allows a visual inspection of your heart. The catheter can also be equipped with special tools to measure your heart, collect blood and tissue samples, and perform other functions.
Coronary Angiography During Heart Catheterization
A coronary angiogram involves injecting a special dye into your blood vessels. The dye illuminates in an x-ray, allowing Dr. Sohail to further evaluate how well blood flows through your heart.
Recovery After a Heart Catheterization
Initial recovery from a heart catheterization procedure takes up to three or four hours, and you spend this time in a post-surgical recovery room. You are provided with aftercare instructions that should be carefully followed. You need to rest first for at least one day. Dr. Sohail and your doctor will review the results of your heart catheterization procedure.
You can learn more about cardiac catheterization procedures in Arlington, TX, by scheduling an appointment at Heart & Sleep Clinics of America. Call us today at (817) 419-7220 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sohail at our office in Arlington, TX.