What is an invasive haemodynamic study?
An invasive haemodynamic study, measures the pressures inside the chambers of your heart and in the arteries of your lungs, as well as how much blood your heart pumps. A soft, thin tube is guided through a vein to the right side of the heart and through an artery to the left side of the heart. Sensors record these pressures directly.
Why is it done?
It is used to find out why you are breathless or having other symptoms when the answer is not clear from so-called non-invasive tests, such as a heart sonar. It confirms or excludes raised pressure in the lung arteries (pulmonary hypertension) and shows whether the cause lies in the lungs or in the heart. It is possible to test how lung arteries will respond to certain medicines, and forms part of the assessment before advanced heart failure treatment or transplantation.
What happens on the day?
In the catheterisation laboratory a drip is placed and the skin over a vein and an artery in the groin and/or arm is numbed with local anaesthetic. The catheters are passed gently through the vein and artery into the right and left side of your heart under X-ray guidance while pressures are recorded at each step, and blood samples are taken to measure oxygen levels. At times you will be asked to hold your breath and you may be asked to inhale a gas via a mask.
What to expect afterwards
Most patients go home the same day, although some are kept overnight if more tests are needed.
Possible complications
The test is well tolerated and complications are uncommon. Bruising, bleeding or tenderness at the puncture sites is the most frequent. Passing the catheters through the heart can cause temporary extra beats or a brief run of fast rhythm, which almost always settles by itself. Rare but serious problems include injury to the heart or a lung artery with bleeding or a significant rhythm disturbance.
This information does not replace a consultation. Please discuss your own risks and options with your cardiologist.