
Cardiac Catheterisation
Cardiac catheterisation is a group of invasive imaging procedures that allows Dr Sigauke to test the functioning of your heart. They are typically used to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the veins and arteries.
Cardiac catheterisation procedures can pick up on several potential issues, such as:
- Size and location of a blockage from plaque or cholesterol
- Heart muscle function problems
- Conditions such as valve disease, coronary artery disease or aorta disease
- Determine if you require further treatment
Coronary Angiogram
Coronary angiograms form part of cardiac catheterisation procedures that diagnose heart conditions.
During a coronary angiogram, Dr Sigauke will insert a catheter into a vein in the leg or wrist that travels directly to the heart. He will use an X-ray monitor to guide the catheter and then inject contrast dye into the bloodstream to evaluate if there are any blockages or narrowing of the arteries. The X-ray captures images (angiograms) as the dye moves through your blood vessels.
This allows Dr Sigauke to determine the blockage's location, size and severity. He can also perform an interventional cardiology procedure to treat your condition while performing a coronary angiogram.
Interventional Cardiology Procedures
Interventional cardiology procedures are non-invasive solutions to opening narrowed artery ways, thereby improving blood flow to the heart.
Arteries are most often clogged because of atherosclerosis, a condition where cholesterol and plaque (fatty deposits) build up, causing a blockage or narrowing of the arteries. Atherosclerosis affects the heart, kidneys, brain, legs and organs.
Coronary heart disease, or coronary artery disease, is atherosclerosis of the heart's arteries. In this condition, the artery walls deteriorate while plaque and cholesterol build up and start narrowing or blocking the arteries, preventing blood flow to the heart.
Dr Sigauke uses interventional cardiology procedures to treat conditions affecting blood flow through the arteries, but these are first diagnosed through cardiac catheterisation.
Coronary AngioplastyAn angioplasty, also known as a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) or balloon angioplasty, is a procedure that allows Dr Sigauke to restore blood flow to a blocked artery. The procedure is minimally invasive and involves a sedative and local anaesthesia.
Dr Sigauke will insert a catheter with a balloon attached into a blood vessel in your leg or wrist. Once in the blocked artery, the balloon will inflate and stretch the artery's walls and compress the plaque into the walls to increase blood flow.
A stent often accompanies angioplasties to maintain optimal blood flow.
Stent ImplantationA stent is a small mesh tube placed inside a previously blocked artery after an angioplasty procedure. A catheter is used to transport the stent through the same blood vessel as the balloon to the artery, where it is placed. The stent will prevent the artery from collapsing and allow proper blood flow.