The Right Heart Cath Procedure is performed to gain information on the pressures within the heart and collect an oxygen saturation in the Pulmonary Artery to calculate the Fick Cardiac Output. This will allow the doctor to asses the extent of Heart Failure as well as the overall health of the heart based on the pressures recorded.

Supplies

• Cath Pack Tray
• 5Fr Sheath
• 5Fr Bal-Wedge Catheter
• PA Saturation Syringe
• Radial Drape

Procedural Steps

1. Prep the patient for the procedure. Sterilize the areas you will be working on and restrain any parts of the body that will need to be still to safely perform the procedure.
2. Drape the patient in a sterile gown with openings on the areas that will need to be accessed. The Radial Drape will be used as an extra layer of sterilized protection.
3. Exchange the IV placed in the Brachial location with your 5Fr Sheath. (This will be our access point for the procedure.
4. Secure the sheath with a plastic bandage located in the Cath Pack Tray.
5. Insert the 5Fr Bal-Wedge catheter into the sheath and advance the catheter into the Pulmonary Artery to collect a sample.
6. Attach the PA Saturation syringe to the back of your Bal-Wedge and collect the blood sample to gain oxygen saturation in this area.
7. Inflate the Bal-Wedge balloon and continue to insert until resistance. Attach the back of the catheter to the ACIST Machine to record all pressure waveforms.
8. Collect your Pulmonary Capillary Wedge pressure and record. Deflate the balloon to record your Pulmonary Artery Pressure.
9. Pull the catheter back in stages watching your hemodynamic waveforms for guidance. Collect Right Ventricle, and Right Atrial pressures and record the waveforms.
10. Remove the 5Fr Bal-Wedge, then 5Fr Sheath and hold pressure until bleeding stops.