Balloon catheter
Multi-lumen catheter for performing right heart catheterization
Right heart catheterization
The catheter is introduced into the different right heart chambers to take pressure and angiography measurements.
What is right heart catheterization?
Right heart catheterization, abbreviated as RHC, is a procedure performed to check the functioning of your heart muscle.
During this procedure, readings of cardiac and arterial pressure are taken, and blood samples are collected to measure oxygen levels in the heart. This examination is useful for identifying the cause of pulmonary hypertension, determining its treatment, and deciding on heart surgery in the case of congenital heart diseases.
Should the child be kept fasting?
Absolutely. For children under 16, the examination is performed under general anesthesia to prevent them from moving during the examination. It is imperative that they fast for at least 6 hours for solids and 3 hours for liquids. We try to do the children first so as not to leave them fasting for a long time.
Performing pediatric straight catheterization:
Pediatric right catheterization is performed in the catheterization room. The child is laid flat and given general anesthesia so as not to move during the procedure. The doctor performs a venipuncture in the groin and inserts a thin balloon catheter. The catheter is guided to the different heart chambers, to take pressure measurements and take a few milliliters of blood for analysis. Depending on the initial results, they may need to be repeated a second time under high oxygen therapy combined with nitric oxide. At the end of the procedure, gentle compression is applied for about ten minutes at the groin level and then a pressure bandage is applied. The child is monitored in the recovery room until full consciousness is regained and then returned to the parents. Feeding is only allowed two hours after the end of the procedure to avoid the risk of choking. Discharge can be done the same day 4 hours after the end of the procedure.
Are there any risks with right heart catheterization?
Straight catheterization is safe and usually well tolerated, but there are still some risks.
There may be bleeding at the insertion site, as well as pain and bruising.
Additional heartbeats or palpitations (rapid heartbeats) may occur at the time the catheter is placed in the heart. It is very rare for this to cause problems, or to persist after the test is completed.
The risk of serious complications is very rare (less than 1%). General anesthesia for congenital heart disease itself has its share of complications, but when the indication for right catheterization is established, the benefit of the examination far outweighs the risks.
Cardiac catheterization
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