Cardiac catheterisation

Cardiac catheterisation is a common procedure used to diagnose and treat some heart conditions. Most people are awake during the procedure and many can go home the same day.

A cardiologist (heart doctor) inserts a thin and hollow tube, known as a catheter, through a blood vessel in your groin or wrist and guides it up into your heart.

Cardiac catheterisation allows doctors to check how well your heart, blood vessels and heart chambers are working. In some situations, you may be able to go home the same day.

Cardiac catheterisation is a procedure that can diagnose and treat heart conditions such as:

• narrowing of your coronary arteries
• problems with your heart valves and heart muscle
• heart failure and congenital heart disease

Cardiac catheterisation can help your doctor plan the best treatment for your heart condition.

Cardiac catheterisation is a common procedure performed by specialist doctors with monitoring before, during and after.

Before the procedure, your doctor will give you specific instructions about how to prepare. You may need to have tests to check your general health, including blood tests to check your kidney function and iron levels and an ECG (electrocardiogram).

If you take blood thinning medicines, you may need to stop them a few days before the procedure or take an alternative medicine. Your doctor will give you specific advice based on your situation.

It's a good idea to ask your doctor any questions you may have about your procedure to help you make an informed decision.

Cardiac catheterisation is done by a cardiologist (specialist heart doctor) and can be done as an outpatient (so you don’t stay overnight in hospital) or as an inpatient in a specialised heart clinic. Your doctor will make a recommendation that suits your situation best, and may also depend on the services available near where you live.

Before your procedure

There are some things to consider the day before and on the day of your procedure. These include:

• fasting — staff will advise you when to stop eating or drinking before your procedure
• prescription medicines — your doctor will give you specific instructions about which medicines to stop taking ahead of time, based on your health conditions
• bring with you — your ID, any medicines you take regularly, a dressing gown, slippers and toiletries
• hospital admission — remove any jewellery before you come and ask the staff what time you need to arrive

The staff will shave and clean the area where the catheter will be inserted.

Read about how to prepare for surgery and your healthcare rights.

During the procedure

Your cardiac catheterisation will be performed by a specialist heart doctor (cardiologist). Most people are awake during the procedure. Cardiac catheterisation usually involves the following steps:

1. Your health team will set up in a procedure room or cardiac catheterisation laboratory (cath lab), and show you where to lie down.
2. They will give you a local anaesthetic so that you won’t feel the procedure, but you will likely be awake.
3. Your doctor will insert a narrow tube into a blood vessel in your wrist or groin that leads to your heart.
4. Depending on the purpose of the procedure and what your cardiologist sees, they may also do other treatments, such as coronary angioplasty.
5. At the end of the procedure, you may have a tube in place for a few hours. Your doctor may also use a special device to close the vessel.

Let your doctor know if you feel any discomfort in your chest during your procedure.

Cardiac catheterisation is usually done under local anaesthetic, except in children, where it is usually done under general anaesthetic.

You may feel some warmth when the dye is injected into your blood vessel.

Minor complications after cardiac catheterisation are rare, but can include:

• discomfort and bruising where the catheter entered your body
• damage to the blood vessel wall
• allergic reaction to local anaesthetic or contrast agents (dye) used

Major complications are rare but can include:

• infection
• heart attack
• stroke
• severe bleeding
• fainting caused by an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• cardiac arrest

Cardiac catheterisation is a common procedure that is generally considered safe.

Depending on your situation and health condition, your doctor may discuss other types of imaging to assess your heart, such as ultrasound (echocardiogram), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan.

If your procedure is delayed for any reason, contact your healthcare provider. They can help manage any changes to your medicines made in the lead-up to your procedure and reschedule your procedure.

Visit the Heart Foundation (Opens in new tab) website to learn about other heart procedures.

Book a Heart Health Check (Opens in new tab) to learn your risk of heart attack or stroke.

Learn more about healthy eating to protect your heart (Opens in new tab).

St Vincent’s Hospital has information on coronary angiograms (Opens in new tab).

Languages other than English

The Heart Foundation has information on heart health (Opens in new tab) available in many community languages.

Safer Care Victoria has resources available on your surgical journey (Opens in new tab) in several community languages.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

The Heart Foundation has an animation on having a heart check (Opens in new tab) for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.