DEFINITION:

Cardiac catheterisation is a diagnostic procedure to detect obstructions or narrowing (stenosis) on the coronary arteries. It gives us information about the functioning of the heart, valves and coronary arteries that can be used to prevent a heart attack or angina.

DESCRIPTION:

Cardiac catheterisation consists of introducing a catheter into an artery, usually the radial (wrist puncture) or femoral artery (groin puncture).

The catheter is guided to the heart and contrast liquid is injected to see the heart's chambers, major vessels and its functioning, contractility, etc.

Cardiac catheterisation is performed in the operating theatre under local anesthesia. It usually lasts about 45-60 minutes.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Although this is a diagnostic test, it must be taken precautions similar to those taken in surgical procedures.

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.
Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative study that includes blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.
Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.                      

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

If the insertion zone is the femoral artery (groin), patients must rest in bed with the affected leg stretched out, for 12 hours at least.

Intense sports and efforts are not recommended for the initial two days after cardiac catherisation.

DEFINITION:

Coronary angioplasty a non-surgical alternative to coronary bypass.  Coronary angioplasty dilates the narrowed coronary artery and restores normal blood flow to the heart muscle.

DESCRIPTION:

Coronary angioplasty takes place in the Haemodinamics room under local anaesthetic.

First, a diagnostic catheterisation is conducted to check for arterial obstruction. If coronary artery disease is diagnosed after the cardiac catherisation, an intracoronary guide is inserted.

This guide is used to support other catheters with a small balloon at the tip, which is guided to the stenotic area and swollen to dilate the artery.

Sometimes, the angioplasty involves a stent placement. A stent is a small and cylindrical structure that prevents a re-narrowing of the artery. The balloon is folded into the stent and, when it swells, it places it at the site of the blockage.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.

Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative study that includes blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.

Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

After a Coronary angioplasty, patients stay in the intensive care unit for at least 12 hours and one more day in hospital.

If the insertion zone is the femoral artery (groin), patients must rest in bed with the affected leg stretched out, for 12 hours at least.

Intense sports and efforts are not recommended for the initial two days after cardiac catherisation.

DEFINITION:

A coronary bypass is the surgical alternative to treat coronary obstructions by cholesterol plaques. It restores blood flow to the heart creating a new route or bypass around the blocked section of the coronary artery.

Coronary bypass improves heart work and prevent future cardiac problems.

DESCRIPTION:

Coronary bypass can be performed with extracorporeal circulation or not. Both surgeries are done under general anesthesia and lasts about three or four hours.

Coronary bypass surgery involves suturing a section of healthy vein from another part of the body to the damaged coronary artery, to skip the obstruction. There are simple, double, triple, etc. bypass operations depending on the patients.

Bypass without extracorporeal circulation is made through a sternotomy while the heart is beating. Surgeons use clamping systems to fix the coronary artery. It is not necessary to open any chambers of the heart.

Coronary bypass are performed under general anesthesia and usually last between 3 and 6 hours, depending on how many arteries are affected.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.

Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative study that includes blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.

Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Patients remain hospitalized for about two days in the intensive care unit and between 4 and 6 days in the hospital.

We recommend starting cardiopulmonary rehabilitation plan in one of Spaincares hospitals to speed up the recovery.

The first four weeks patients should not make sudden movements with arms or carry weight. After the first month patients can gradually return to normal activities and return to work.

DEFINITION:

The four heart valves open and close to give way to the blood pumped by the heart, always in the same direction.

If these valves cannot be open completely (stenosis), they do not let enough blood pass.

It can also be that a valve does not close correctly (heart failure) and blood goes back and don not  reach organs correctly.

These problems cause an extra effort of the heart that can lead to serious diseases such as heart attack, so it is necessary to perform a surgical repair or valve replacement.

DESCRIPTION:

There are some different techniques to repair heart valves that are used depending on the existing defect. If the valve is too damaged, patients will need a valve replacement.

There are 2 types of replacement valves, mechanical, made ​​of artificial materials, and biological, made ​​from human or animal tissue. Mechanical valves require the patient to take anticoagulants although they are more resistant and durable than the biological ones, that must replaced approximately every 15 years.

Repair or valve replacement surgery can be performed with or without extracorporeal circulation. In both cases it is performed under general anesthesia and lasts about three or four hours.

Repair or valve replacement surgery with extracorporeal circulation is made through a sternotomy. The heart is stopped and the blood flows through a lung machine. It is necessary to cut the heart or aorta, so this surgery is called "open heart procedure".

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

Patients should undergo a preliminary test to evaluate the specific characteristics of their intervention.

Furthermore, they must undergo a standard preoperative study that includes blood tests, electrocardiogram, etc.

Also, if they have any chronic illness or regularly take medications, especially anticoagulants, they should inform the surgeon before surgery.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

Patients remain hospitalised for about two days in the intensive care unit and between 4 and 6 days in hospital.

We recommend starting a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation plan to speed up recovery.

The first four weeks patients should not make sudden movements with their arms or carry weight. After the first month they can gradually resume their normal activities and return to work.