Cardiac Catheterization: Procedure, Risks, and Aftercare

5. Inserting the catheter

First, the surgeon shaves and thoroughly cleans the area and administers the local anesthetic. He or she then inserts a needle into a blood vessel, and a thin tube called a catheter through this needle. The physician will guide the catheter through the large blood vessels into the heart. Most patients do not find this procedure painful, though they may feel some pressure. Often, the patient can watch the procedure unfolding on a screen.

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