What Happens After Arrival in the Cath Lab?
• The groin areas are scrubbed with an antiseptic solution. • The patient is covered with sterile drapes from the neck down . This is just another step in ensuring that the cath procedure remains sterile. • The groin area is then “numbed” with the use of local anesthesia. This is induced by injecting lidocaine into the skin and adjoining area. The process is similar to a dentist numbing the gums prior to a dental procedure. The patient may feel a little stinging sensation at this time. • The artery is felt by the fingertips, and a needle is directed towards the arterial pulsation. When blood escapes out of the needle, the cardiologist knows that entrance to the artery has been gained. Since the area was previously “numbed” with local anesthesia, there is usually very little discomfort associated with this. • A thin flexible wire is then introduced into the needle. This is known as a guide-wire because it helps guide catheters, just like a rail guides the path of a train. The purple pla
