o Catheter : medical devices that can be inserted in the body to treat diseases or perform

a surgical procedure ◦ There is a two types of catheter: (diagnostic and therapeutic)

o Stent: A stent is a small mesh tube that's used to treat narrow or weak arteries. A stent
is placed in an artery as part of a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention
(PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty. PCI restores blood flow through narrow
or blocked arteries. A stent helps support the inner wall of the artery in the months or
years after PCI. There are two type of stent: drugeluting and bare metal The amount
of restenosis at drugluting is less than bare metal because it has a drugs inside it avoid
restenosis and active as healing material .
o Balloon: Interventional cardiologists perform angioplasty, which opens narrowed
arteries. They use a long, thin tube called a catheter that has a small balloon on its tip.
They inflate the balloon at the blockage site in the artery to flatten or compress the
plaque against the artery wall. Angioplasty is also called percutaneous transluminal
coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
o Tow type of balloon compliance and non- compliance

PATIENT PREPARATION
o Patients may be required to be admitted to the hospital the night before the procedure. For
some patients, overnight stay is not required. (Nil per oral [NPO] or nothing to eat or
drink by mouth 6-8 hours before the test.)
o The cardiologist will explain the procedure and risks associated with it.
o Consent form should be signed before the procedure.
o Any questions or doubts should be asked and clarified with the doctor before surgery.
o The doctor should be informed of allergies to medications, iodine or food. It should also
be documented legibly in the patient’s chart.
o Previous allergic reactions to contrast dyes must be mentioned.
o Catheterization procedure requires X- ray fluoroscopy. Women patients in childbearing
age can undergo pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy.
o Medications that are taken on the day of cardiac catheterization should be discussed with
the doctor. Some medicines taken for blood thinning (e.g., Aspirin), erectile dysfunction
(Sildenafil or Tadalafil) or diabetic medication (metformin) needs to be stopped on the
day or few days before the procedure.
o Kidney disease should be assessed before, as contrast materials or dyes may not be used
in patients with abnormal kidney function.
o Some blood tests and electrocardiogram (ECG) will be performed before the procedure.
o A mild sedative will be given orally or intravenously to comfort the patient and relieve
anxiety.
o All personal belongings and jewelry will be removed and patient will be dressed in a
hospital gown before being transported to the catheterization laboratory.

PROTECTION
o lead apron of .5 mm lead equivalent is worn during the procedure .
o lead glass radiation shielding is used