Question

[Blake777]

MyTEE test results also mention aortic root and aorta are mildly atherosclerotic. Does this mean it will have to be fixed? and will they do that while doing the cath? Because they told me if they find something they will ask me if I want them to fix it and they will do it while they are in there and I will have to spend the night in the hospital afterwards. Thanks Again.

 

[xtremlee]

Im no expert here but when they do the cath they are just looking at whats wrong to see if there is anything that needs to be fixed while you are in surgery. They should tell you if your root
needs repaired or not. I hope this helps and I understood your questions right. Im sure others will answer better than me.

 

[Harpoon]

Depending on the lab and the doctors performing the procedure, there ARE some repairs that can be done right there during the cath. It's real specific to what they find and what they can do with the limited access, but there are some small things that can be done such as placing a stent for a blocked artery...


It really depends on what they find, what they're looking for.

Most cases though, I think it's unlikely they'd do any more than look around and see what's really going on.

The cath allows you to actually see the insides of the heart, what the valves and other structures look like, where blood is flowing, what kinds of pressures are where...

They'll use what they find along with the results of all the other testing they might do to plan the best "attack" to treat your condition. They generally use it as a diagnostic tool, not for treatment.

 

[Blake777]

Thanks!

Thanks!

Thank You for your replies. Very helpful.

 

[Raverlaw]

Blake,

the cath lab is set up to perform stent insertion or a balloon angioplasty if needed. You might have to spend the night if they do one of those, but sometimes those patients get to go home the same day.

If you're young and healty, and are stable after the procedure, they might release you same day.

BTW, most ICUs charge from midnight to midnight, so if you check in at 7:00 a.m. one day and stay until 7:00 a.m. the next day, you are charged for 2 days in the hospital.