Cardiac Catheterization

Your Visit

What happens before a catheterization procedure?

Our team will evaluate your child before a catheterization procedure. We review any combination of blood tests, echocardiograms, chest X-rays, stress test results, cardiac CT scans, and MRIs. We will also have your family sign consent forms for the procedure.

What should our family expect on the day of the procedure?

You and your child will come to Boston Children’s on the morning of the procedure. Your child will be given a sedative to help relax and sleep during the catheterization. In the cardiac catheterization lab, your child will lie on a small table with a c-shaped X-ray machine. Heart monitors and other equipment are used throughout the procedure to monitor your child’s vital signs. And they will be either sedated or under anesthesia to make them comfortable.

What happens during a catheterization?

A procedure has three primary steps:

Your child receives an injection of a local anesthetic in the spot where the catheter will be inserted. We will then insert the catheter into a blood vessel.
A cardiologist uses X-rays, called fluoroscopy, to help visualize the movement of the catheter as it makes its way up the vessels toward the heart.
Eventually, the tube is guided into the area of the heart in need of treatment.

What care is needed after the procedure?

When the procedure is finished, the catheter is withdrawn. We will place several gauze pads on the area of insertion to prevent bleeding. If blood vessels in the leg were used as an insertion point, your child will need to keep their leg straight for a few hours after the procedure to minimize any chance of bleeding. Your child will be then taken to a unit in the hospital where they will be monitored by nurses for several hours. You will receive instructions about the care of the catheterization site, bathing, activity restrictions, and any new medications your child may need to take at home.

What else can our family expect?

Depending on the results of the catheterization, additional tests or procedures may be scheduled. Your cardiologist will tell you in advance if your child is a candidate to go home after the procedure. We will also let you know after the procedure if that plan changes and your child needs to stay overnight.