Pre and Post Catheterization Care
Cardiac Catheterization is one of the most common diagnostic tools used by cardiologists from the best heart hospital in India today. Our Cath Lab is equipped with the latest Philips Azurion Clarity 7C12 with flexvision which emits ultra-low level x-ray dose. The Cath Lab is used for doing angioplasties, CTO angioplasties, coronary angiograms, complex angioplasties, peripheral angioplasties, Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (AICD), Intra Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Device Closure, temporary and permanent pacemaker, Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Device Closure, Balloon Mitral Valvotomy (BMV/PTMC), Coarctation Stenting, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI).
When talking about catheterization, the pre and post-care after the operation is equally essential and shouldn’t be ignored. In this article, we talk about the points to keep in mind before and after catheterization at the best heart hospital in India.
PRE CATHETERIZATION CARE
Create a teaching plan: First things first, the most important step of Pre-Catheterization Care is to create a Pre Cardiac Catheterization Patient Teaching Plan. Remember, this plan must be customized to fit the patient’s requirements.
Keep the patient informed: Before entering the cath lab, a nurse from the cardiac cath lab will visit the patient. The nurse would inform the patient about the time the procedure may occur, and also check the patient’s chart for any kind of allergies, pre-cath record, and cardiac cath.
Counseling is the key: Before any operation, counseling is important and must be done before going inside the Cath Lab. The patient will be counseled by the physician to understand the knowledge that the patient has about the particular operation. It is important, as it helps bring forth any fear that the patient may have and provide the patients with an opportunity to get their questions answered.
Tick off all the points from the pre-cardiac cath checklist: It is important to tick off all the points from the pre-cardiac cath checklist before entering the cardiac cath lab. Ensure that the on-duty nurse does that before you go inside the cath lab.
DURING THE PATIENT’S CATHETERIZATION
When the patient is in the Cath Lab, the nurse must ensure that all the things are in place for Post-Cath Care.
- Keep It Ready: While the patient is in the Cath Lab, the nurse must make sure that all the equipment for evaluation and maintenance of the patient post the catheterization is
available. These include a blood pressure machine, telemetry, intravenous pole with pump, pulse oximetry, and sandbag.
POST CATHETERIZATION CARE
Make the patient feel comfortable: After the patient’s return, they must be placed on bed rest with a bed height higher than 30 degrees.
Hydrate the patient: Ensure that the patient is completely awake and make sure that they consume at least 2 litres of fluid within the first 12 hours after the catheterization.
Ensure stability of the patient: Post catheterization, the most crucial aspect is to ensure the stability of the patient initially. For this, the nurse will check their EKG, vital signs, urine output, oxygenation level, cardiac, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, respiratory, and gentle urinary assessment. Undivided attention must be paid while doing the peripheral vascular assessment of the lower extremities.
Monitor the vital signs: The nurse must constantly monitor the vital signs and pulse every 15 mins for four hours. Then reduce it to every 30 mins in 2 hours, then 1 in two hours. Also, monitor their hourly intake and output.
These are the steps followed before and after a catheterization procedure at the best heart hospital in India.
