Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory
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A heart catheterisation is a highly specialized test that gives your physician accurate information about you heart anatomy and function. An angiogram allows him/her to visualize the selected blood vessels in detail to determine if and to what extent they are diseased. It also gives information on various aspects of the chambers of the heart. The test is carried out in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory which is equipped with specialized X-ray and electronic equipment designed to perform these tests. A Cardiac catheterisation (Cath Lab) is not surgery. It is a dye test that shows you and your doctor the condition of your heart’s chambers and coronary arteries. |
Other tests are often done before a cath. They include an ECG
(EKG), treadmill or stress test, echocardiogram or sometimes a
nuclear scan. The whole procedure generally lasts approximately
two hours after which the patient is returned to the ward for
close supervision.
You may be required to spend a night at the hospital for
observation after a cath. Do not eat or drink anything for a
number of hours before the cath. This lowers the chance of
nausea or vomiting during the procedure. After the cath, you may
have food and liquids as you like.