Cardiac Catheterization
When you choose Adventist HealthCare Heart & Vascular Institute for your catheterization procedure, you get accredited, high-quality care that you won’t find at every hospital. Our doctors were some of the first in the nation to use advanced approaches that improve your experience.
What is Cardiac Catheterization?
Doctors can use thin, soft tubes called catheters to diagnose and treat heart problems. An interventional cardiologist inserts a catheter and other tiny medical tools into an artery and guides them up to your heart. There’s no surgery or large incisions, so you have a low risk of side effects and heal quickly.
Why Do I Need Heart Catheterization?
Your doctor may recommend cardiac catheterization to:
- Diagnose and treat coronary artery disease (clogged heart arteries)
- Prevent blood clots
- Repair or replace heart valves
- Treat heart arrhythmia through ablation
- Fix heart defects you were born with
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)
One of the most common “cath” procedures is PCI, or angioplasty. It uses a catheter to deliver a tiny balloon and mesh tube called a stent into a blocked artery. The balloon inflates to widen the artery, and the stent keeps the artery open to improve blood flow to the heart. This procedure can relieve chest pain, stop a heart attack or reduce the risk of a heart attack.
Top Hospitals for PCI
Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center and Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center are the only hospitals in Montgomery County to hold Chest Pain Center with PCI accreditation from the American College of Cardiology. [AS1] This recognition shows we’re experts in responding to heart attack symptoms, and we have PCI available 24/7 every day of the year. So, you get treatment the moment you need it.
Shady Grove Medical Center also holds Cardiac Catheterization Lab accreditation with PCI. That means you can trust us to keep you safe and provide the information you and your family need to take care of you after you go home.
Using Your Wrist Artery Speeds Up Recovery
Depending on the size of your arteries and your specific procedure, your interventional cardiologist will insert the catheter into either:
- Femoral artery in your upper thigh (traditional approach)
- Radial artery in your wrist
The radial approach leads to a quicker recovery and less pain. Most people leave the hospital within 24 hours after transradial catheterization.
National Leader for Wrist Catheterization
White Oak Medical Center performs 60 percent of its cardiac catheterizations through the wrist, more than twice the national average. We were also the first hospital in Maryland to become a training center for physicians nationwide to learn this innovative approach.
Transradial Recovery Lounge
You’ll appreciate the modern, comfortable radial recovery lounge at White Oak Medical Center. This space provides:
- Around-the-clock monitoring by our expert cardiac care team
- Individual high-definition televisions
- Specialized lounge chairs that let you rest upright
- Ability to control room lighting through a dimmer switch
Cardiac Rehabilitation
After your procedure, your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation to help you safely regain strength, endurance and energy. In this 12-week program, you’ll enjoy supervised exercise and customized education about improving your cardiovascular health. Look forward to advice and encouragement from people who understand your concerns and goals.
