Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. A tube or a catheter is passed through the artery or vein in the arms, legs, or groin area to the heart. This catheter is used to diagnose cardiac diseases. Treatments such as coronary angioplasty, coronary stenting, etc., are done by this procedure.
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CT angiography can accurately find heartblocks. Is it true?
Query: Hello doctor, 320 slice CT scan machines have been introduced in my country. It is claimed that a CT coronary angiography done on such a machine will pinpoint accurately the blocks in the heart. Rendering a catheter based investigation unnecessary. Can you confirm whether this is true? Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is not always true. Even today catheter angiography is the gold standard. CTA (computed tomography coronary angiogram) is a good screening tool to evaluate coronary blocks in high-risk asymptomatic patients or to assess preoperative cardiac fitness in some patients a... Read Full »
Is surgery needed to patch my secundum atrial septal defect?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 40-year-old male. I have been diagnosed with 3.3 cm secundum ASD in the right atrium. The catheterization process failed to patch the ASD and now the cardiologist is advising a surgical process. Is this correct? There are no symptoms of chest pain. No breathing or lifestyle issu... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through the images (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Yes, it is certainly possible. It is a large ASD (atrial septal defect). One can patch the ASD up to around 3.6 cm, but it also depends on multiple factors like rims available to hold the ... Read Full »
I have been advised of cardiac catheterization. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 29-year-old black woman with a pre-medical history of lupus, Raynaud's phenomenon, and migraines. Since being diagnosed with lupus two years back, I have been having difficulty breathing and it was found that I have tachycardia, and the doctor is treating me with Metoprolol. Met... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and can understand your concern. No doubt, it takes a lot of courage to face a health challenge like this. I admire your strength. Your ECG (echocardiogram) report, echocardiography, and cardiac MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are normal (attachmen... Read Full »
Please suggest an alternative test for cardiac catheterization.
Query: Hi doctor, I have been having many issues in the last two years. My main issue right now is that I get a weird feeling in my stomach like I want to growl but I cannot. I am having shortness of breath, numbness of hands, tingling and heavy feeling. I feel like passing out and my heart starts to race.... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Control of blood pressure (BP) is must as it may cause these kind of things or you may have a postural drop of BP. Stomach feelings can be due to diverticulitis (infected pouches in the colon) and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). There is a possibility of Stokes-A... Read Full »
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