Talk:Cardiac catheterization

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Problems can occur when having a cardiac catheterization done. In my own personal case, I had it inserted in the groin area. Within 12 hours, my entire penis and testicles had turned purple and I had internal bleeding about two inches above 5 inches to the side of the insertion hole. 4 days later I can still hardly walk due to the blood build up in my groin area, it also hurts (badly) to sit down and stand up. I was given many flyers about the procedure, but NONE of them ever mentioned any of this being able to occur. I was quite suprised when this all happened and I had to goto my doctor to find out that this was fairly normal. I was told 1 of 4 people have a problem.

Sounds like you were unlucky and got a bad hematoma. Hematoma (bleeding) is a common complication.[1] I hope you have a speedy recovery. Also, I hope that the cath told the docs what they wanted to know.

Feel free to edit the article... you could add a discussion about complications. Nephron 08:27, 18 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Merge?

There is a more extensive article on this topic under coronary catheterization. Perhaps this stub should be merged with it.--209.7.195.158 15:35, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

I don't thin so. Coronary catheterization is a limited form of cardiac catheterization. It's better to make this article more extensive. --Ekko 08:47, 18 May 2006 (UTC)

What is the distinction? The coronary cath article could certainly stand some cleanup as it seems a bit cluttered (not every instance of each term with its own wiki article needs to be linked!). What can a cardiac cath entail that a coronary cath - as described by that article - doesn't? --65.113.254.235 00:56, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

I'm with Ekko-- the articles should NOT be merged. Coronary catheterization-- is catherization of the coronary arteries. Cardiac catheterization includes coronary catheterization and catheterization of other places (e.g. the chambers (ventricles, atria)). Nephron  T|C 01:38, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

Then I guess the coronary cath article needs to be reworked since the second paragraph states -

Coronary catheterization is one of the several Cardiology diagnostic tests and procedures. Specifically, coronary catheterization is a visually interpreted test performed to recognize occlusion, stenosis, restenosis, thrombosis or aneurysmal enlargement the coronary artery lumens, heart chamber size, heart muscle contraction performance and some aspects of heart valve function. Important internal heart and lung blood pressures, not measurable from outside the body, can be accurately measured during the test. The relevant problems that the test deals with most commonly occur as a result of advanced atherosclerosis, atheroma activity within the wall of the coronary arteries. Less frequently, other issues, valvular, heart muscle or arrhythmia issues are the primary focus of the test.

That basically lumps everything under the heading of "coronary catheterization" not just the coronary angiograms and associated interventions though the rest of the article just focuses on those. Also, I see that they have a link from "coronary angiogram" that goes to the angiogram page and then that page has a link for "coronary angiography" which just redirects back to the coronary cath page. So I think I'm just complaining that everyone needs to get together and decide exactly what belongs where and what it should be properly called. (I first came to these pages trying to find out exactly what all was done in a right heart cath vs the left heart cath. I'm still not sure. Oh, well.)--209.7.195.158 14:44, 19 May 2006 (UTC)

Right heart cath: you enter from a vein. Left heart cath: you enter from an artery. And unless you move your cathether through a hole in either septum you don't move from one side to the other. --Ekko 21:43, 20 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] timing of radiocontrast administration

OK, from what I remember from what was done to me (both in the neck and in the groin), the radiocontrast as well as a local anesthetic were administered in the cath lab prior to the insertion of the guidewire and catheter. So "during" or "before" really depends on what you consider to be the actual procedure. I guess it comes down to semantics. --Kyoko 17:16, 29 November 2006 (UTC)

Certainly not. Contrast is given during the procedure, through the catheter. And that's the way it is. --Ekko 13:28, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm sorry for my mistake, when you go through a whole rush of new (to me) procedures in a relatively short period of time, details can become a little hazy in the memory. Please forgive me. --Kyoko 13:50, 30 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Spelling?

I've noticed that "catheterization" is occasionally spelled "catherization." I always assumed this was a misspelling, but it happens often enough -- even on respectable medical sites, and in one of the comments above -- that I've begun to wonder. Is "catherization" a misspelling, a valid alternate spelling, or something entirely different from "catheterization"? 38.115.185.2 18:38, 15 November 2007 (UTC)LNelson