Catheterization - cardiac; Heart catheterization

Cardiac catheterization carries a slightly higher risk than other heart tests, but is very safe when performed by an experienced team.

Generally, the risks include the following:

• Cardiac arrhythmias
• Cardiac tamponade
• Heart attack
• Bleeding
• Low blood pressure
• Reaction to the contrast medium
• Stroke
• Trauma to the artery caused by hematoma

Possible complications of any type of catheterization include the following:

• A risk of bleeding, infection, and pain at the IV site
• A very small risk that the soft plastic catheters could damage the blood vessels
• Blood clots could form on the catheters and later block blood vessels elsewhere in the body.
• The contrast material could damage the kidneys (particularly in patients with diabetes).

Cardiac catheterization may include coronary angiography.

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Cardiac catheterization

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Cardiac catheterization Prevention

Review Date: 04/23/2009
Reviewed By: Steven Kang, MD, Division of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, East Bay Arrhythmia, Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group, Oakland, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)