Interventional Heart Catheterization

An interventional heart catheterization is a special heart catheterization that may correct some types of heart defects. These are some of the more common defects that can be corrected with an interventional heart catheterization. A narrowed heart valve or vessel may be dilated with a special balloon catheter. This catheter is gently blown up, for a brief period, then flattened and removed. Your child will be discharged from the hospital about one day after the heart catheterization. Your child can be followed by your local heart doctor after discharge.

A coil may be placed in a blood vessel when there is an abnormal connection between two blood vessels. This coil will block the abnormal connection. This occurs with a patent ductus arteriosus. Your child will be discharged on the same or following day after the heart catheterization. Your child can be followed by your local heart doctor after discharge.

Same-day Heart Catheterization

If your child is coming to the hospital for an outpatient heart catheterization, he or she will usually be seen in the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic the day of or the day before the heart catheterization. Your child will be examined by a nurse, and any tests that are needed before the heart catheterization will be done at that time. These tests may include a chest x-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), an ultrasound or echocardiogram of the heart, and blood work.

You will be given information about your child's diet for the day of the heart catheterization and what time to arrive. A nurse from pediatric cardiology will call you about one week before the heart catheterization to review information and answer any questions you may have.

Getting Ready for Catheterization

Getting your child ready to have a heart catheterization will depend on the age of your child. For infants and toddlers, bringing a special stuffed animal, blanket or pacifier may help to make them more relaxed during the heart catheterization. Preschoolers and older children sometimes enjoy watching a favorite video or listening to music. Toddlers may be told they are going to have a special test the night before or the morning of the heart catheterization. Preschoolers may be told of the heart catheterization 1 to 2 days before, while older children may be told 1 to 2 weeks before. Older children may have questions of their own, these should be answered honestly.

Your child will get medicine to make them sleepy and relaxed about 15 to 20 minutes before the heart catheterization. You will be able to walk to the catheterization lab with your child and stay for 2 to 3 minutes. You will not be able to stay with your child during the heart catheterization.

The heart catheterization will take 2-3 hours to complete. Your child will lay down on a special table. They will be covered with a warm blanket. The groin area of their legs, which is the crease at the top of the leg, will be cleaned with an orange soap called Betadine. They will be covered with sterile blankets and your child will have their heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation watched during the heart catheterization.

Your child will receive numbing medication, called Novacain, that is given as a shot under the skin where the catheter is going to be placed. Your child should not feel pain at the area where the catheter is placed, it may feel like pressure or pushing. The catheter is a small hollow tube that is similar to an IV, but longer. It is placed into two blood vessels, an artery and a vein. X-rays are used to see where the catheter is in the heart. Blood samples, pressures and other measurements will be taken. A special fluid contrast or dye is placed in the catheter. The contrast colors the blood and lets the doctor take pictures of the heart. The contrast will make your child feel warm, like drinking a cup of hot chocolate real fast. This will only last a few seconds.

At the end of the heart catheterization, the catheter is removed. A large pressure dressing is placed over the site to prevent bleeding. Your child will spend about one day in the hospital . A nurse will take your child's pulse, check for fever and take a blood pressure every half hour for 2 hours. The bandage and the pulse in the foot will also be checked. Your child will need to be quiet and lay still for 2-4 hours after the heart catheterization. Children many times feel sleepy for 2-3 hours after the heart catheterization. When your child is awake, they make drink clear liquids, such as sugar water for infants or a popsicle for older children. If your child does OK with this, they may have their normal diet for lunch or dinner.

A TV and phone will be available in your child's room. If your child needs to stay overnight, a parent will be able to sleep near the child's bed. Children should avoid walking long distances on the day of the heart catheterization. Your child should not be in gym, ride their bike or rough house for one day after the heart catheterization. Tub bathing and swimming are not allowed for two days after the catheterization, to allow time for the site to heal. Taking a shower is OK. Your child should be back to their normal self within 24 hours.