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 test that is performed to check how well your heart muscle is functioning.
During this test, heart and blood pressure readings are taken and blood samples are taken to measure oxygen levels in the heart. This test is useful in finding the cause of pulmonary hypertension, determining its medication or interventional treatment, and deciding whether to have heart surgery in the case of congenital heart disease.
Can I take my usual medications before the test?
You can take most of your usual medications the night before your test and on the day of the test. Your doctor will review the medications you are taking with you. If you are unsure about any medication, you will need to let us know before you come.
Can I eat and drink before this test?
You can have a small snack on the day of the exam.
Depending on the organization of the day, we try to respect the order and time of passage. However, depending on the emergencies of the day, the duration of the interventions of the day, it is possible to have a waiting time of several hours.
How is right heart catheterization performed?
Your test will take place in the interventional cardiology unit.
When you are admitted to the cardiology department, you will be asked to put on a hospital gown. You will need to remove all jewelry, underwear and socks.
You may wear your glasses, dentures, and hearing aids, if needed. A small area of your groin will be shaved in case it will be the entrance for the test. You will be asked to go to the bathroom to empty your bladder (urinate) just before your test.
A stretcher-bearer will take you to the catheterization room in your bed. You will be helped onto a hard, narrow table.
It will be a little cold in the room. Around you you will see X-ray machines and screens.
Small sticky patches will be placed on your chest. These will be connected to a heart monitoring machine.
Your body will be covered with a large sterile drape.
The doctor will administer an anesthetic subcutaneously into the vein of your right arm or right groin to reduce the sensation of pain.
Small catheters (tubes) are inserted into a vein into the right side of your heart. You may be asked to take a deep breath to help move the catheter.
The doctor will measure the pressure in your heart and take blood samples to measure oxygen levels.
If your ambient air saturation is low, an artery will be punctured to measure blood pressure and a blood sample will be taken to measure oxygen concentrations. The puncture will be made either at the wrist or in the groin crease.
We may also perform angiograms, i.e. injections of contrast products. At this time, you may feel a sensation of heat throughout your body for a few seconds.
The test lasts approximately 60 minutes.
Are there any risks with this test?
This procedure 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 when the catheter is placed in your heart. It is very rare for this to cause problems, but you may experience such palpitations during the test.
The risk of serious complications is very rare (less than 1%), but the benefit of the examination far outweighs the risks.
How long will I be in bed after the test?
If the procedure was performed using a vein in your arm, you will be able to get up as soon as you return to your room.
If the procedure was performed from a vein in the groin, you must remain in bed for about two hours without bending the leg used for the puncture too much. The head of the bed can be slightly raised. After 2 hours of bed rest, you will be able to get up.
When can I be discharged from the hospital?
If the test was performed from a vein in the arm and without artery puncture, you will be able to leave 1 hour after the end of the examination.
If the test was performed from a vein in the groin, you will be discharged approximately three hours after the procedure is completed. You will need to walk around and check for bleeding before you can consider discharge.
It is recommended that you be picked up and taken home. It is important that someone be with you for a few hours after discharge in case you have any bleeding and need assistance.
Cardiac catheterization
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