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Knowing what to expect about an upcoming procedure can provide comfort to both you and your family. To help in your preparation, we have outlined the important things here.
Your cardiologist's office will schedule your procedure with our scheduling staff. If necessary, they will contact you with any individualized information and instructions prior to your procedure. It is your responsibility to pre-authorize the procedure with the insurance company; check with your physician's office staff to see if they provide this service.
- Call: (801) 442-8600, or toll free (888) 269-8674
M-F, 7 AM - 8 PM
Sa, 9 AM - 2 PM
- Have your insurance information available.
- The Patient Service Representative can send you a link to fill out the health history forms online.
- Financial assistance is available for qualifying patients:
Patient Billing & Financial Assistance
Complete the required Intermountain Health & Medication History forms:
- The Health History & Medication forms can be completely securely online. You will receive a link via email to the ONLINE FORMS homepage when you call to Pre-Register. This is the only way to access these forms.
- Complete the Surgery Health History and Medication form securely online prior to your arrival. If you do not have access to the internet the forms can be completed in the hospital prior to your procedure.
- Please note that we are required for hospital accreditation to have you fill out Intermountain surgical health and medication history forms — which may be in addition to the history forms needed by your surgeon or doctor.
- Notice of Privacy Practices
- You will be called after 3:30 PM the day before your procedure with the time you should arrive at the facility.
- If you will be unavailable the day before your procedure, call us at the Scheduling Arrival Time phone number after 3:30 PM: (801) 507-4100
- Note: Your arrival time will be earlier than your scheduled procedure time in order to complete the necessary preparations for the procedure.
This is the most important pre-procedural instruction. Stomach contents are hazardous when having any type of anesthesia. The answer depends on the type of procedure you are having:
Heart Rhythm Procedures (Ablation, Pacemaker Placement, ICD placement)
- DO NOT EAT, DRINK, OR SMOKE ANYTHING after midnight the night before your procedure.
Heart Catheterization/Angiography Procedure: You may have clear liquids up to two hours before your procedure.
- Liquids that are OK to have include:
- Water
- Bouillon
- Clear jello
- Popsicles
- Gatorade
- Apple juice, NO PULP
- Soda pop
- Coffee, WITHOUT CREAM
- Clear tea, WITHOUT CREAM
- No dairy products of any kind.
- No products with artificial red coloring
- Gum, breath mints, chewing tobacco, smoking tobacco and vitamins are not to be used within four hours prior to your procedure.
- Follow your doctor's directions about medications.
- You may be asked to stop taking blood thinners for several days before and you may need to adjust your medication if you have diabetes. Always check with you doctor before stopping any medication.
- If you are a diabetic on oral diabetic medication or insulin, you should NOT take them unless instructed by the nurse or physician. Bring your insulin with you. If you are diabetic, please contact one of the nurses prior to your procedure.
- Please bring a list of all medications (including herbal and over the counter medications) with you the day of your procedure. The list should included dosages and how frequently you are taking them.
- Use your asthma or other lung inhalers in the morning and be sure to bring them with you.
- If you are on oxygen or use a CPAP at home, bring it with you.
- Contact your physician for instructions if you are taking aspirin, aspirin products, blood thinners, or MAO inhibitors. Some medications need to be stopped a few days before the procedure.
- Call us and let us know what your needs are.
- Free translation services are available 24-hours-a-day in all spoken languages and ASL.
Notify your Doctor if you develop any of the following:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Cough or congestion
- Chicken Pox exposure/illness within two weeks of surgery
- Any other problems that may interfere with your scheduled surgery
- Bathe and shampoo before coming to the hospital
- Make sure your hair is dry prior to arriving. Pull back long hair with an elastic band
- Wear loose clothing that is easy to get off and on, which will fit over a dressing.
- Do not bring valuables.
- Cases for eyeglasses, contact lenses or hearing aids. All personal belongings will remain with your family member during the procedure.
- If you are staying overnight in the hospital - bring a small bag with personal items only (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, comb or brush, shaving kit, other toiletries). If you use a CPAP machine at night, please bring it with you.
- Cash or a credit card for your co-pays (depending on your insurance) and filling any post-surgical prescriptions. Note: The cost of prescriptions cannot be added to your bill, unless under Workers' Compensation.
- The following documents, if applicable: Photo ID (such as a driver's license), insurance card(s), Medicare and/or Medicaid cards, a completed Living Will (if you have one).
- If you are scheduled to arrive at 11:00 a.m. or later, call us before you leave home to see if any changes have been made to the schedule.
- One or two visitors - family members or friends - are welcome.
- One family member should stay within the facility during your stay to receive instructions from the care team.
- A parent or guardian of a patient under 18 should stay in the facility until the patient is discharged. (If you are a guardian of a patient, bring copies of forms indicating guardianship or power of attorney.)
- A responsible person should be prepared to drive you home. Driving yourself home is NOT permitted. If you do not have a responsible person to drive you home, your procedure will be cancelled.
- A responsible adult should be prepared to care for you for the first 24 hours after your procedure.
The CV Cath Lab is located at Intermountain Medical Center, Building #4 on Level 1. When you arrive, please check in at Patient Registration on Level 1.
After arriving you will be taken to the pre-procedure area where you will complete admissions paperwork:
- An informed consent indicating the procedure and that you have been informed about the risks of procedure.
- The Health History Form (if not already completed).
- Preparation for the procedure and initial recovery will take place in the same area.
- You will change from regular clothes to hospital clothes.
- A registered nurse will perform an assessment and you will be prepared for your procedure. This may include having vital signs and weight measured, starting an IV (intravenous) line, drawing lab tests and possible urine sample.
- You'll be provided with a warm blanket, and TV while waiting to be moved to the Cath Lab.
- Waiting times before your procedure starts will vary. The actual time your procedure begins will depend on longer or shorter surgery times and emergencies. We will make every effort to keep you informed if a delay occurs.
- Your family will be able to wait in your room while you are in the Cath Lab having your procedure. No family may be permitted in the Cath Lab during the procedure.
- Your cardiologist will visit with you. Please feel free at this time to ask any questions regarding your procedure.
- A registered nurse will ask once more for your name, allergies, food intake status and, as necessary, identify and prepare the procedure site. (Your arm or groin will be shaven and cleaned with antiseptic solution. Sterile drapes will be placed over the area.)
- Monitors will be applied and a warm blanket provided.
- Local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area before the procedure begins.
- A sedative (conscious sedation) or general anesthesia will be given depending on what procedure you are scheduled for.
- Depending on your procedure and medical condition you will likely return to our Post Cath Recovery Unit, the same unit where you were before your procedure.
- Family will be able to visit in this area.
- The site where the catheter was inserted might be closed with a stitch or other closure device. A doctor or nurse will apply pressure to the site to prevent bleeding.
- You will stay in bed for a period of time, which may include laying flat for several hours, but usually the head of your bed can be elevated slightly depending on your procedure.
- A registered nurse will:
- Take vital signs
- Monitor your wound site
- Treat nausea/vomiting
- Manage any pain
- Offer fluids (taking in fluids flushes the x-ray dye through your kidneys and out of your body.)
- Provide discharge education (both written and verbal) to you and to the person who is taking you home.
- Your physician will provide any discharge prescriptions necessary.
- You will be observed and made comfortable until you have met medical criteria.
- Depending on your needs and the procedure performed, many patients are able to go home the same day. If you have a stent placed, plan on spending one night in the hospital.
- If needed you will be accompanied by a staff member out of the building when you are discharged. You may walk, if feeling well enough, or be assisted to your car in a wheelchair.
- Patients who have received sedation or general anesthesia should not drive or operate a vehicle for 24 hours after the procedure. You will need someone to drive you home.
- Patients sometimes experience minor after-effects from anesthesia such as drowsiness, nausea, muscle aches, a sore throat and occasional dizziness or headaches.
- These after-effects lessen rapidly in the hours following the procedure.
- The majority of patients do not feel up to their typical activities the day of their procedure, usually due to general tiredness or wound site discomfort.
- Plan to take it easy for a few hours until you feel back to normal. Know that a period of recovery at home is common and to be expected.
- Call your doctor if you have questions about the procedure, what you can and cannot do, or when you can return to work.
- A patient satisfaction survey group may contact you regarding your experience. Please do not hesitate to offer suggestions or comments; your opinions are most welcome. Your suggestions help us improve the services we offer to our patients.