Our doctors will perform your cardiac catheterization in 30 minutes–2 hours. A local anesthetic is first given at the catheter insertion location, usually your wrist or groin. Imaging will help your doctor thread the catheter through your blood vessels and into your heart. Tests may include monitoring heart chamber pressures, injecting contrast dye to examine blood flow, or obtaining tissue samples. If blocked arteries are found, your doctor may conduct an angioplasty and place stents. Sedation will keep you comfortable during the procedure. After the catheter is withdrawn, pressure is applied to stop bleeding, and you’ll be monitored for a few hours before likely being discharged the same day.

Like any medical procedure, cardiac catheterization has some risks. These include bleeding or bruising at the insertion site, infection, contrast dye allergies, blood vessel injury, and, rarely, a heart attack or stroke. There’s also some minimal exposure to X-ray radiation. Your CVG healthcare team will address and mitigate these risks.

After your catheterization, we will provide continuous monitoring. Your doctor may recommend 24 hours of no vigorous exercise or driving. You may be given medicine to relieve pain or prevent complications. It’s important to keep the catheter insertion site clean and dry and check for infection. A follow-up appointment may include more tests to assess healing. Most patients can return to normal routines within a few days to a week, depending on their situation.

Our Atlanta heart physicians offer cardiac catheterization at eleven convenient metro sites. Expert cardiac treatment is close to home or work, reducing disruption to your busy life. Our multiple locations make scheduling, procedures, and follow-ups easy. Whether you live in downtown Atlanta or in the suburbs, CVG has cardiologists ready to help.

At CVG, our cardiologists offer extensive experience caring for patients using state-of-the-art techniques. Their compassion adds so much to your care because our doctors understand how heart issues can not only affect you physically but take an emotional toll as well. Trust is the #1 factor in the doctor/patient relationship. You can trust your CVG cardiologist with every aspect of heart care.

CVG’s twenty board-certified heart doctors will guide you through your healthcare journey with the utmost compassion and individual attention. Our goal is to provide you with state-of-the-art cardiac care that includes the full spectrum of services, from testing to diagnosis and treatment. Through our combined efforts, we can conquer any challenge that comes our way.

Trust your heart health to CVG’s twenty board-certified cardiologists. Equipped with leading-edge diagnostic tools, a wealth of experience, and compassion, our cardiac team provides the highest level of personalized care.

You can review our cardiologists’ pages and explore their exceptional credentials and dedication to providing quality care. You can trust that our doctors genuinely care about you and will do everything they can to ensure you have the best quality of life possible.

To learn more, please call (770) 962-0399 or 678-582-8586. You may also request an appointment online. If you have an emergency, don’t contact us online; please call 911.