What is a right heart catheterization?
A right heart catheterization (also called a pulmonary artery catheterization) is used to see how well your heart pumps blood and check the blood pressure in your heart and lungs. This test is not the same as a left heart catheterization (coronary angiography), which is used to check for blockages in your coronary arteries.
Why do I need this procedure?
Pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in your lungs. A right heart catheterization is used to find out if you have this condition, the cause, and how bad it is.
Treatment for heart failure or heart transplant
You may need a right heart catheterization if you have heart failure and your healthcare provider is considering advanced treatment options for you, such as:
- Some types of medicine.
- A left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
- A heart transplant. Right heart catheterization that includes a biopsy (endomyocardial biopsy) is also used after your transplant to check for signs of organ rejection and see how your new heart is working.
Before your procedure
Please make plans to have someone drive you home from the hospital. You will not be able to drive if you get medicine to make you sleepy (sedation) during the procedure. If you are not sedated, you will be able to drive, but you may prefer not to.
Please tell your doctor if you:
- Have any allergies, including latex, tape or medicine.
- Are or may be pregnant.
- Take any type of medicine, including medicine to thin your blood/ prevent blood clots. Ask your doctor if you need to make changes to the way you take your medications before the procedure.
What happens during the procedure?
- A cardiologist or pulmonologist will do the catheterization in a room designed for this type of procedure. Please let us know if you have trouble lying flat on the procedure table.
- You will be awake for the procedure. The incision area will be numbed. You may get medicine to make you sleepy.
- Please tell your procedure team if you have pain or discomfort at any time during the test.
- A long, thin tube called a catheter will be inserted through a small incision in your neck, wrist or groin. The catheter goes through the incision, into a vein, and is guided to your heart and pulmonary arteries in your lungs. Your doctor will check the blood pressure in these areas throughout the procedure.
- Your doctor may ask you to hold your breath, bear down, cough and do other activities during the test.
- Your may get nitric oxide and/or saline to see how they affect your blood pressure.
How long does the procedure last?
The right heart catheterization itself takes about 45 minutes. This does not include time to get you ready for the procedure, recovery and other tests you may need.
What happens after the procedure?
- Most patients can go home after the procedure.
- If you have high blood pressure in your heart or lungs, and your heart is not pumping enough blood, you may need to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) to have more testing or special medicine.
- Before you go home, we will give you detailed information (discharge instructions) about how to care for your incision, restrictions and signs of a problem.
Is the procedure safe?
Your doctor will talk to you about the risks and benefits of the procedure before you give your consent to have it done. Please share any questions or concerns you have.
Expect to have mild irritation and pain around the incision area. If the pain is severe, call your doctor.
Complications are rare. The most common are:
- Bleeding at the incision site.
- Injury to the artery next to the vein used for the catheterization.
- Abnormal heart rhythm.
