Right heart catheterization is an invasive diagnosing test that is performed to evaluate how well the heart is pumping the blood. It is usually carried out to measure blood pressure and oxygen level in the lungs and the right side of the heart. The procedure is also known as pulmonary artery catheterization.

During right heart catheterization treatment a cardiologist inserts a thin flexible tube into a vein, generally in the neck, groin or arm. This is guided through the right side of the heart. The procedure allows the doctors to measure blood pressure, cardiac output and oxygen level in the body. The purpose to carry out this procedure is to detect heart related concerns and manage heart failure.

Why is Right Heart Catheterization performed?

The cardiologist usually perform this procedure to identify various heart conditions these include:

Cardiogenic Shock: Due to cardiogenic shock the blood flow and oxygen level gets reduced. The main causes of this shock are sudden heart failure and severe bacterial infection in the bloodstream.
Cardiomyopathy: The condition known as enlargement of the heart and it occurs due to thickening and or weakening of your heart muscle.
Congenital Heart Disorder: There are multiple birth defects that occur in the heart. For instance, septal defect, this a hole in the wall between the lower chamber of the heart.
Heart Failure: This a condition where the patient’s heart muscle gets so weak that it can’t be able to pump the blood efficiently. And it leads to fluid buildup in the blood vessels and lungs. The fluid also builds up in the ankles, feet and other parts of the body.
Heart Valve Disease: This condition occurs due to malfunction in one of the heart valves and it causes abnormal blood flow in the heart.
Pulmonary Hypertension: In this condition a patient experiences blood vessels and the lungs. It causes trouble breathing and heart failure.

Risks and Complications of Right Heart Catheterization

Right heart catheterization is usually is safe procedure, since it involves incision then it can pose some risks and complications, which are as follows:

Arrhythmia
Blood clotting
Artery damage
Bleeding
Bruises at the insertion part
Infection
Lung collapse
Cardiac Tamponade
Heart stroke

Right Heart Catheterization Treatment

Before Procedure:
- On the day of the procedure a nurse will ask the patient to change and empty his bladder so it would be convenient for both doctor and the patient.
- Then a medical professional will instruct the individual to lie on an examination table.
- Once the patient is comfortable lying on the table a nurse will attach small patches known as electrodes to different parts on the chest. This is done to record the heart’s activity.
- In most of the cases the right heart catheterization has been a quick procedure that does not involve sedation. However, a patient may need a IV insertion into the vein in an arm or hand to receive certain fluids and sedative medications.
During Procedure:
- The right heart catheterization usually takes one hour, however the whole procedure, including pre-process and recovery, may take several hours.
- During the process, the patient will be awake and the healthcare provider will clean the area using certain medical gel for inserting catheter inside the body, but firstly a local anaesthesia will be provided to numb the area and make the person relax throughout the procedure.
- A cardiologist uses a special needle or cutting tool to puncture the blood vessel. Then take a measurement and sample tissues as required.
- During this session the doctors may ask the patient to breathe in certain ways.
- The doctor may also ask to do exercise or use a foot pedal during the test to evaluate the pressure in the heart and how heart responses.
- Once the evaluation is done the catheter is removed along with IV medications and incisions are closed.

Does the Procedure Cause Discomfort

Since it is a invasive therefore it could cause various discomforts including:

Cough
Nausea
Headache
Lightheadedness
Urges to cough
Discomfort due to IV medications

Take care Tips After Right Heart Catheterization

After the procedure a doctor will suggest to certain guidelines to follow for a few days these include:

Avoid bending, lifting pushing and pulling right after the procedure and keep that in mind for a few days.
Avoid indulging in heavy activities like driving and weight lifting when you receive sedative.
Drink plenty of fluids to recover sooner.
Put an ice pack on the part where you experience swelling and soreness.
Avoid taking a shower for 24 to 48 hours after the procedure and do not take a bath until the incisions are cured.