New catheter method offers speed, comfort
By Kyle LoJacono
Betty Theademan went home less than two hours after receiving a cardiac catheter test at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Heart Institute, something she would not have been able to do a year ago.
Until about six months ago, the institute used the traditional catheter method, going through the groin to check for blockages in someone’s blood vessels.
“It’s much easier for the doctor to do it that way, but it’s not as easy on the patient,” said Dr. Ketul Chauhan, who treated Theademan. “With the old method, patients had to lay down in a bed for six to eight hours as still as possible to make sure they don’t bleed. The newer way, they can walk out much faster.”
The newer method is called radial catheterization and goes in through the wrist. Theademan, who winters in Zephyrhills with her husband Pete, had never been to the hospital for treatment before.
“I’d been having chest pains the last couple weeks, so I thought I should get checked out,” Theademan said. “They said I should have a catheter and I was thinking about how long and uncomfortable it would be.”
Theademan had a traditional catheter about 10 years ago and was pleased to hear the new method went through the wrist. She had the test done on Jan. 24 and said she was on the road home feeling fine soon after.
“When I had it done the first time it was so uncomfortable,” Theademan said. “They put pressure on the area for six hours and I stayed overnight. This time they taped the area tight with some gauze and told me to take it easy for a couple days. They said don’t lift anything that is more than 10 pounds. Two day later I took the gauze off and it was like it never happened.”
Chauhan said bleeding was always the main concern with traditional catheterizations, especially with older people.
“We have an older population here in Zephyrhills and east Pasco County,” Chauhan said. “We knew we wanted to have this treatment because it’s not only safer, but faster and just as effective at finding blockages.”
Gwen Alonso, the hospital’s vice president of cardiac services, said offering treatments like radial catheterization fits into the overall goal at the facility.
“We thought the new catheterization would be an upgrade to our care,” Alonso said. “We already have awards for the speed of our care and the outcomes of our treatment at the Heart Institute and we’ll continue to bringing the best new techniques and technologies available. The goal is for our patients to have a great experience when they come here.”
Alonso stressed that not everyone is a candidate for the new treatment and people should discuss the option with their doctor.
As for Theademan’s diagnosis, the catheter found no significant blockages in her body. She said her doctors recommend she live an overall healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a good diet to treat the slight chest pain.
“It’s good news,” Theademan said. “You don’t want to have to do anything too major. The catheter was easy and so is the treatment. I’m very happy with how everything turned out.”
