Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure that involves passing a thin, flexible tube, called a catheter, into the heart. The catheter is inserted into a vein in the arm, neck or groin and then threaded into the heart. The procedure is used to collect blood samples from the heart, examine the function of the heart and blood vessels or to take a biopsy of the heart muscle. Cardiac catheterization does present some risks to the patient, and these risks should be considered prior to the procedure.
Cardiac Arrhythmias
One of the risks of a cardiac catheterization is a cardiac arrhythmia, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The procedure can cause the heart to beat abnormally fast or slow. This can lead to heart failure or even a heart attack. Arrhythmias are a rare risk of the procedure. They are normally caused by catheterizations that irritate the heart muscle or take longer than normal. In order to avoid complications associated with cardiac arrhythmias, patients should be monitored during the catheterization.
Blood Clots
Blood clots are a possible complication of the cardiac catheterization procedure, reports MayoClinic.com. The clots typically occur due to blood reacting with the catheter. Once the blood clots form, they can travel to and become lodged in small vessels. This can cause an obstruction in blood flow to various organs. If this occurs, the organs will be damaged and start to die. Patients who develop symptoms of blood clots should be treated with blood-thinning medications to dissolve the existing clot and prevent the formation of other clots.
Cardiac Tamponade
Sometimes cardiac catheterization can cause blood to leak into the sac that covers the heart, called the pericardium. Blood in the pericardium is called cardiac tamponade, and it is a risk associated with cardiac catheterization, according to MedlinePlus. Cardiac tamponade is dangerous because the blood within the sac places pressure on the heart and prevents it from pumping effectively. If enough blood leaks into the pericardium, the heart will be unable to beat. Symptoms of this complication include chest pain, dizziness and an abnormal pulse. Large amounts of blood within the pericardium should be removed before the patient experiences life-threatening symptoms.
Blood Vessel or Heart Damage
Cardiac catheterization can cause damage to the blood vessel where the catheter is inserted or to the heart itself, notes MayoClinic.com. Normally the catheter is carefully guided via a special X-ray imaging. However, the physician performing the procedure may accidentally damage tissues within the blood vessel or heart, which can lead to excessive bleeding or scarring. If this occurs, the cardiac catheterization should be stopped and the damage promptly repaired.
