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Over the years Nakasero Hospital has been in existence, we have endevoured to refresh and update the number and type of services available within the hospital
Yet again, we introduce you to other new services in a bid to provide better and sophiscated care to our dear patients.
- Cardiac Diagnostic Unit
- Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
What is Cardiac Catheterization?
Cardiac Catheterization (Cardiac Cath or heart cath) is a procedure to examine how well your heart is working. A thin, hollow tube called a catheter is inserted into a large blood vessel that leads to your heart
- Cardiac Catheterization is performed to find out if you have disease of the heart muscle, valves or coronary (heart)
- During the procedure, the pressure and blood flow in your heart can be measured
- Coronary angiography is done during cardiac catheterization. A contrast dye visible in X-rays is injected through the catheter. X-ray images show the dye as it flows through the heart arteries. This shows where arteries are blocked.
Procedures done at Nakasero Hospital Cathlab
- Implantation Cardioverter – Defibrillator (ICD)
- Pacemaker Device Programming
- Pacemaker Implantation-Single Lead Chamber
- Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Placement
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)
- Temporary Pacemaker insertion
- Permanent Pacemaker Insertion
- PCI -2 stents
- PCI -1 stent
- Coronary Angiogram
- PaceMaker insertion – Dual Lead
Why do people have Cardiac Catheterization?
A Cardiac Catheterization provides information on how well your heart works, identifies problems and allows for procedures to open blocked arteries.
- Take X-rays using contrast dye injected through the catheter to look for narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. This is called coronary angiography or coronary
- Perform a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) such as coronary angioplasty with stenting to open up narrowed or blocked segments of a coronary
- Check the pressure in the four chambers of your
- Take samples of blood to measure the oxygen content in the four chambers of your heart.
- Evaluate the ability of the pumping chambers to contract.
- Look for defects in the valves or chambers of your heart.
- Remove a small piece of heart tissue to examine under microscope (biopsy).
How do I prepare for Cardiac Catheterization?
- Instructions will be given prior to procedure on what to eat and drink during the 24 hours before the test.
- Usually, you will be asked not to eat or drink anything six to eight hours before the cath procedure.
- Tell your doctor about any medicines (including over – the – counter, herbs and vitamins) you take. The doctor may ask you not take them before your cath procedure. Don’t stop taking your medicine until your doctor tells you to.
- Tell your doctor or nurse if you are allergic to anything, especially iodine, shellfish, latex or rubber products, medicines like penicillin, or X-ray dye
- Arrange to have someone drive you home after your procedure.
- If you usually wear a hearing aid, wear it during your If you wear glasses, bring them to your appointment.
What happens during Cardiac Catheterization?
- A doctor with special training performs the procedure with a team of nurses and technicians. The procedure is done in a hospital Cardiac Catheterization (Cath) lab
- Before the cath procedure, a nurse will put an IV (intravenous) line into a vein in your arm so you can get medicine (sedative) to help you relax, but you’ll be awake and able to follow instructions during the procedure.
- The nurse will clean and shave the area where the doctor will be working
- A local anesthetic is usually given to numb the needle puncture site
- The doctor will make a needle puncture through your skin and into a large blood vessel. A small straw-sized tube (called a sheath) will be inserted into the vessel. The doctor will gently guide a catheter (a long, thin tube) into your vessel through the sheath.
- A video screen will show the position of the catheter as it is threaded through the major blood vessels and to the heart.
- Various instruments may be placed at the tip of the catheter. They include instruments to measure the pressure of blood in each heart chamber and vessels connected to the heart, view the interior of the blood vessels, take blood samples from different parts of the heart, or remove a tissue sample (biopsy) from inside the heart.
- When a catheter is used to inject a dye that can be seen on X-rays, the procedure is called angiography
- When a catheter is used to clear a narrowed or blocked artery, the procedure is called angioplasty or a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
- When a catheter is used to widen a narrowed heart valve opening, the procedure is called valvuloplasty.
- The procedure lasts about an hour
What happens after Cardiac Catheterization?
You will go to a recovery room for a few hours. During this time, you have to lie flat
- Pressure will be applied to the puncture site to stop
- You will be asked to keep your leg straight and will not be able to get out of
- Your heartbeat and other vital signs (pulse and blood pressure) will be checked during your recovery
- Report any swelling, pain or bleeding at the puncture site, or if you have chest pain
- Before you leave the hospital, you will receive written instructions about what to do at home
What happens after I get home?
Be sure to carefully follow all instructions. It is important to take your medications as advised by your healthcare provider and to make follow up appointments before leaving the hospital. Most people can return to their normal activities the day after the procedure depending on whether any additional interventions were done during the Cardiac Cath
completely until the foods have passed through your body completely…
A small bruise at the puncture site is normal however, call your doctor if:
- Your leg with the puncture becomes numb or tingles, or your foot feels cold or turns blue
- The area around the puncture site looks more bruised.
- The puncture site swells or fluids drain from
And call the hospital if:
- The puncture site swells up very fast
- Bleeding from the puncture site does not slow down when you press on it.
Dr. Joselyn Rwebembera
Head of Dept, Cardiology
How can I learn more about Cardiac Catheterization?
Talk with your doctor.
Here are some good questions to ask:
- What will you learn from the procedure?
- When will I get my results?
- When can I resume normal activities?
- What medicines will I need to take?
- Will I need another treatment?
Get Care Today
For queries, check up or comments on post procedures do not hesitate to book an appointment with department of Cardiology. Whether your heart or vascular problem is common or complex, we make the most accurate diagnosis so you can receive the most effective, personalized treatment.
