About-Cardio
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We provide our users the most up-to-date and accurate information on the treatment and prevention of cardio pathologies in accordance with current American and European clinical guidelines.
The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Understanding Catheters in Medicine
Introduction
A catheter is a flexible tube used in medical procedures to transport fluids, drain fluids from the body, or access certain areas for treatment. Catheters come in different types depending on their purpose: urinary catheters, cardiovascular catheters, intravenous (IV) catheters, and more.
Types of Catheters
- Urinary Catheters – Used to drain urine from the bladder. Examples include Foley catheters and intermittent catheters.
- Cardiac Catheters – Used in procedures like cardiac catheterization to diagnose and treat heart conditions.
- IV Catheters – Used for administering fluids, medications, or nutrition directly into the bloodstream.
- Dialysis Catheters – Used for patients undergoing dialysis.
- Epidural Catheters – Used to administer anesthesia or pain relief.
Catheterization in Cardiology
Cardiac catheterization is a key diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in cardiology. It allows cardiologists to:
- Examine the coronary arteries for blockages.
- Measure pressures inside the heart chambers.
- Perform interventions like angioplasty or stent placement.
Risks and Benefits
Benefits:
- Allows precise diagnosis and treatment.
- Minimally invasive compared to open surgery.
- Can be life-saving in conditions like heart attacks.
Risks:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Allergic reactions to contrast dye (in cardiac catheterization)
Post-Procedure Care
After catheterization, patients should:
- Follow medical advice on rest and activity levels.
- Monitor for signs of infection or complications.
- Stay hydrated to help eliminate contrast dye from the body (in the case of cardiac procedures).
Catheters are essential in modern medicine, providing solutions for various medical needs with minimal invasiveness.
Source recommendations
1. American Heart Association Guidelines on Cardiovascular Catheterization
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/diagnosing-a-heart-attack/cardiac-catheterization
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001038
- https://www.acc.org/Guidelines
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000996
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20048207/
2. European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/Acute-Coronary-Syndromes-ACS-Guidelines
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15769784/
- https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines/Clinical-Practice-Guidelines/ESC-EACTS-Guidelines-in-Myocardial-Revascularisation-Guidelines-for
- https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/45/36/3415/7743115
- https://eurointervention.pcronline.com/article/applied-coronary-physiology-for-planning-and-guidance-of-percutaneous-coronary-interventions-a-clinical-consensus-statement-from-the-european-association-of-percutaneous-cardiovascular-interventions-eapci-of-the-european-society-of-cardiology
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If you or your loved ones experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a doctor in time. Remember that self-medication can be dangerous, and timely diagnosis will preserve the quality and life expectancy.
The heart is an organ that does not know how to "keep silent" if something goes wrong. Chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, dizziness, and rhythm disturbances are the symptoms that require our attention. The best prevention of heart disease is careful attention to your health, regular checkups with a doctor, and a healthy lifestyle. Take care of your heart, and it will serve you for many years!
Our advantages:
Best practices from USA, EU and Japan
Our answers to your questions are based on the clinical recommendations of countries with the most developed healthcare systems in the field of cardiology in the USA, the EU and Japan.
Always up-to-date information
On a daily basis, we monitor for you all new scientific research publications in leading scientific journals on medical issues of interest to you.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
We monitor all innovations and changes in the field of cardiac disease treatment on a daily basis.
Get second opinion
Here you can learn everything that even your doctor may not know about cardiology (if he does not speak English and he does not read 117 leading medical journals on cardiology every month).
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Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.
Every 3-5 years, half of the scientific approaches to treatment in the field of cardiology are reviewed as a result of specialized scientific discoveries. With us, you don't have to wait these years to learn about the best ways to treat you and your loved ones.