Cardiac Catheterisation Lancashire South Cumbria Cardiac Network Involves

Cardiac Catheterisation Lancashire & South Cumbria Cardiac Network

• Involves the introduction of hollow shaped plastic tubes into the chambers of the heart and surrounding vessels • Under x-ray control • Aim – to diagnose & treat heart disease

Procedures • Angiography – injection radio-opaque dye to establish blood flow, contractility and establish anatomical stenosis and abnormalities • Intra-cardiac pressure recordings – to establish pressure status within individual chambers/vessels • Oximetry – to establish level of oxygen saturation across chambers/vessels • Cardiac output measurements – to establish cardiac output and calculation of shunts and vascular resistances

Techniques - LHC • Sones – Brachial artery ‘cut-down’ – Bed rest not required • Judkins – Seldinger method – Vessel/nerve damage less likely – Femoral or radial

Technicians Role • What are the common duties carried out by the technician for diagnostic/intervention procedures within the catheter laboratory?

Catheter definitions • • • Catheter French size Lumen Length Guide wire Bolus Flow Radio-opaque Radio-translucent

Catheter characteristics • List as many characteristics as possible

Instrumentation system • Catheter • Pressure line • Transducer • Pressure monitoring system

System criteria • Stability • Sensitivity • Adequate frequency response

Pressure line & transducer kit • • • Heparinised 0. 9% saline Maintain sterility fluid filled – air free Zero & calibration Prevents backflow of blood