Cardiac catheterization or cardiac cath is a relatively common procedure that physicians order as part of a battery of tests to determine the health of your heart. The procedure can also be performed to treat heart or blood vessel problems, such as clogged arteries or irregular heartbeat.
The cardiac catheterization lab at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center offers radial artery catheterization, where the artery is accessed using a slender catheter inserted at the wrist.
The radial procedure decreases recovery time and helps reduce complications in high-risk patients including those who are obese, older patients, and those who have had a heart attack. Patients are awake during a cath procedure but receive a mild sedative to help them relax.
Cardiac cath using a more traditional approach where the catheter is inserted through the groin is also available if the radial approach isn’t appropriate, such as when a patient has circulation problems.
“Most patients sit up immediately after radial cath, compared to four to six hours of bed rest with the traditional approach. After the procedure, we use a pressure band on the wrist to help improve mobility and comfort,” says Andrew Shanahan, MD, who is board certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. Dr. Shanahan is Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Coronary Intervention Program at Princeton Medical Center.
To find a Cardiologist who is a member of the Medical Staff of Penn Medicine Princeton Health, call 888.742.7496, or visit princetonhcs.org.