Interventional Cardiology Journal Open Access

Catheterization: Understanding Its Role, Procedure, and Importance in Medicine

Ahmed El-Sayed^* Department of Cardiology, Cairo University, Egypt
^*Correspondence: Ahmed El-Sayed, Department of Cardiology, Cairo University, Egypt, Email:

Received: 01-Oct-2024, Manuscript No. IPIC-24-21785; Editor assigned: 03-Oct-2024, Pre QC No. IPIC-24-21785 (PQ); Reviewed: 17-Oct-2024, QC No. IPIC-24-21785 ; Revised: 22-Oct-2024, Manuscript No. IPIC-24-21785 (R); Published: 29-Oct-2024, DOI: 10.36648/2471-8157.10.10.94

Introduction

Catheterization is a medical procedure that involves inserting a thin, flexible tube known as a catheter into the body for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The term is broad, covering a variety of procedures ranging from urinary catheterization to the more specialized and intricate cardiac catheterization used in cardiology. The practice is fundamental in modern medicine, offering physicians a minimally invasive way to examine internal organs, deliver treatments, and monitor bodily functions. This article focuses on catheterization, its various types, especially cardiac catheterization, the procedure, its uses, and potential risks. This is one of the most common forms of catheterization, used to drain urine from the bladder in patients who cannot do so naturally. It can be employed temporarily during surgery or for long-term management of chronic conditions, such as urinary retention or incontinence. A specialized form of catheterization used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions, cardiac catheterization involves the insertion of a catheter into the heart through a large artery or vein, typically the femoral or radial artery. It is crucial for diagnosing heart diseases such as coronary artery disease, valve disorders, or congenital heart defects. This involves inserting a catheter into the pulmonary artery to measure blood pressure in the lungs and evaluate how well the heart is pumping.

Description

It is often used in patients with severe heart or lung diseases to monitor their condition. This procedure involves placing a catheter into a large vein, typically the internal jugular or subclavian vein, to deliver medications, fluids, or obtain blood samples. It’s used for long-term treatments like chemotherapy or intravenous nutrition. A more specialized and invasive form of catheterization used to monitor intracranial pressure in patients with severe head injuries or neurological disorders. Cardiac catheterization, often referred to simply as "cath," is a procedure that allows doctors to explore the inside of the heart and surrounding blood vessels. This procedure has transformed the field of cardiology, giving physicians the ability to detect, diagnose, and sometimes treat heart diseases with minimal invasiveness compared to traditional surgical methods. Cardiac catheterization is used primarily for diagnostic purposes but can also serve therapeutic functions. Physicians may recommend the procedure if they suspect conditions such as Coronary artery disease (blockages or narrowing of the arteries), Heart valve issues (stenosis or regurgitation), Congenital heart defects Cardiomyopathy (diseases of the heart muscle), Unexplained chest pain or heart failure. Moreover, cardiac catheterization is often a precursor to other treatments like angioplasty or the placement of stents to open blocked arteries.

Conclusion

Cardiac catheterization typically takes place in a specialized room known as a cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (cath lab). The procedure usually lasts between 30 minutes and a few hours, depending on the complexity. Patients are advised not to eat or drink for several hours before the procedure. Blood thinners or anticoagulants may need to be paused temporarily. Sedation: Patients are given local anesthesia at the insertion site, which is typically the groin (femoral artery) or wrist (radial artery). Mild sedatives may also be administered to help the patient relax. After sterilizing the area, a small incision is made, and a sheath is inserted into the blood vessel.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict Of Interest

The author’s declared that they have no conflict of interest.