Vascular Catheterization
Our Cath Lab is staffed by specially trained physicians and medical personnel to provide high-quality care and beneficial treatment for patients with peripheral vascular disease. A catheterization procedure permits your physician to more clearly define your vascular problem. Specific imaging helps us see the condition of your arteries and veins of the extremities, arterial supply to your brain and kidneys and other organs and to detect the presence of disease or blockages.
Peripheral Angiography: This procedure allows the physician to evaluate the presence of plaque build-up (Atherosclerosis) or blockages in the peripheral arteries located in the legs. Build-up of plaque in the peripheral arteries can cause pain, especially in the legs when walking, and other conditions are often identified, like aneurysms or complete vascular occlusions.
Peripheral Revascularization: This procedure allows the doctor to treat severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD) by using devices to improve the blood supply to your extremities. Device options include atherectomy devices which remove plaque, balloons, and/or stents. This treatment helps to increase the blood flow where needed. By increasing the arterial blood flow to the patient’s extremities, this procedure helps in the treatment of non-healing wounds, discomfort from walking, swelling and or cramping.
What To Expect
Once the date for your procedure has been arranged by our scheduling department, a Cath Lab team member will call you before the procedure and set up an arrival and estimated start time. If your procedure is scheduled to start before noon, please do not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before. If your procedure is scheduled to begin in the afternoon, a “small” light breakfast is permitted. You may take your daily medications with small sips of water, except for patients with diabetes. Patients on Metformin or blood thinners should discuss cessation dates prior to all procedures with our staff.
Important: The procedure start time is a projected time based on the types of cases scheduled for that particular day. Sometimes, cases may take longer than expected due to the severity of a patient’s illness. We are dedicated to all of our patient’s health and safety and we take our time with each case to ensure the best available outcome. Procedures usually last 30 minutes to 2 hours. After the procedure, you will rest in one of our recovery rooms for approximately 1 to 4 hours. Your recovery time will be dependent on several factors including the complexity of the procedure, if you were given blood thinners or other medications during the procedure, and whether vascular access closure devices were used. A meal will be provided for our patients during the recovery time. You may have your family stay in the recovery room with you.
Follow-up Testing:
Central Cardiology Medical Center is committed to the treatment of our patients with peripheral vascular disease, and we believe that monitoring with ultrasound and regular office visits are vital to the success of your cardiovascular health.