Cardiac Catheterization & Cath Lab Services in Florida
If your cardiologist has recommended a cardiac catheterization — or if you’ve been told you might need a stent — we understand that can feel overwhelming. The good news is that most patients who come through our cath labs in Ocala and Davenport go home the same day, feeling more informed and with a clear treatment plan in hand. Here’s everything you need to know about what we do in our cath labs and what to expect if you’re scheduled for a procedure.
What Is a Cardiac Catheterization (Cath)?
A cardiac catheterization — often called a heart cath or cath lab procedure — is a minimally invasive procedure used to examine how well your heart is working. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted through a small incision, typically at your wrist (radial artery) or groin (femoral artery), and guided through your blood vessels to your heart.
Once the catheter reaches your coronary arteries, a special contrast dye is injected. This dye shows up on X-ray and allows your interventional cardiologist to see exactly where — and how significantly — blood flow is being blocked. This imaging is called a coronary angiogram.
At FHVI, we perform cardiac catheterizations at our dedicated cath labs in Ocala (SW 17th Street and Lake Weir Avenue) and Davenport. You don’t have to wait for a hospital scheduling slot — most patients can be seen within the same week of referral.
What Conditions Does a Cardiac Cath Diagnose or Treat?
Our interventional cardiologists use cardiac catheterization both as a diagnostic tool and a treatment procedure. Conditions we commonly evaluate and treat in our cath labs include:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) — blocked or narrowed arteries reducing blood flow to the heart
- Chest pain (angina) — to determine whether a blockage is causing your symptoms
- Heart attack evaluation — to locate blockages and restore blood flow as quickly as possible
- Heart valve disease — assessing the function and pressure across your heart valves
- Congestive heart failure — measuring heart pressures to guide treatment decisions
- Cardiomyopathy — evaluating heart muscle disease and its effect on pumping function
- Pre-surgical assessment — required before certain types of heart surgery
What Procedures Can Be Performed in the Cath Lab?
In many cases, your cardiologist can move straight from diagnosis to treatment in the same session — meaning fewer appointments, less time off work, and faster relief from symptoms. Procedures we perform include:
Coronary Angiography
The diagnostic foundation of the cath lab — contrast dye injected through the catheter creates real-time X-ray pictures (angiograms) showing your coronary arteries and any areas of narrowing or blockage.
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) — Angioplasty & Stenting
When a blockage is found, your interventional cardiologist can often treat it on the spot. A tiny balloon is inflated inside the narrowed artery to open it up (angioplasty). A small metal mesh scaffold called a stent is then placed to hold the artery open. Most patients with a successful stent placement are discharged the following morning.
Right and Left Heart Catheterization
Pressure measurements taken inside the heart’s chambers and major vessels give your cardiologist critical data for diagnosing heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and valve disease. This is performed through both left-sided and right-sided catheterization as needed.
Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS)
Using a tiny ultrasound probe inside the catheter, IVUS gives your cardiologist a precise internal view of your artery walls — showing plaque buildup and helping guide exact stent placement.
Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) Measurement
FFR uses pressure measurements to determine whether a partial blockage is restricting blood flow enough to actually cause symptoms — helping your doctor decide whether a stent is truly needed, or whether medication alone is the better path.
What Happens During a Cardiac Catheterization at FHVI? A Step-by-Step Walk-Through
We hear this question at almost every pre-procedure consultation: ‘What is it going to feel like?’ Here’s exactly what you can expect from the moment you arrive to the moment you go home:
- Arrival & prep (45–60 min): You’ll change into a gown, have an IV placed, and a nurse will review your medical history, allergies, and current medications. Blood tests and an EKG are completed at this stage.
- Mild sedation: You’ll receive a sedative through your IV to keep you relaxed and comfortable. You’ll be awake during the procedure and able to follow simple instructions, but most patients remember very little afterward.
- Local anesthesia at the access site: Whether your cardiologist uses your wrist or groin, the skin is numbed first. You’ll feel pressure when the sheath is placed — but not pain.
- Catheter threading & imaging: The catheter is guided to your heart — you won’t feel this. When contrast dye is injected, you may feel a brief warm or flushing sensation lasting 20–30 seconds. This is normal.
- Treatment if needed: If a blockage is found, your cardiologist may perform angioplasty and stenting in the same session. If the blockage is complex or requires further planning, you’ll be scheduled for a separate treatment procedure.
- Recovery (2–6 hours): After the catheters are removed, a pressure dressing is applied to the access site. You’ll rest flat in a recovery area while nursing staff monitors your blood pressure, heart rate, and the puncture site.
- Discharge instructions: Your cardiologist will review your results and what they mean before you leave. You’ll need someone to drive you home. Avoid lifting anything over 8–10 lbs for at least a week.
Why Choose FHVI for Your Cardiac Catheterization?
- Board-certified interventional cardiologists — every procedure is performed by a specialist, not a trainee
- Same-week scheduling at our dedicated cath labs in Ocala and Davenport — no hospital waiting lists
- Results reviewed with you directly by your cardiologist before discharge — so you leave with answers
- Medicaid and self-pay patients accepted — call to discuss your coverage options
- Surgery Center on-site at Ocala SW 17th St — if a surgical procedure is needed, it can often be coordinated at the same location
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardiac Catheterization
A: No — you’ll be awake, but comfortably sedated. The medication we give you is similar to what’s used for a colonoscopy: you’ll feel relaxed and drowsy, and most patients remember little or nothing of the procedure itself. You’ll be able to hear your cardiologist and follow simple instructions like ‘take a breath and hold it.’
A: Most patients are surprised by how little discomfort they feel. The only real discomfort is the brief stinging when the numbing medication is injected at the access site (wrist or groin). Once you’re numb, threading the catheter is painless — you may feel some pressure, but not pain. When contrast dye is injected, a warm or flushing sensation lasting about 20–30 seconds is very common and completely normal.
A: For a diagnostic-only catheterization, most patients go home the same day after a 2–4 hour recovery period. If your cardiologist places a stent during the procedure, an overnight stay is typically recommended for monitoring. Your cardiologist will confirm the plan with you before the procedure and let you know what to arrange at home.
A: Don’t eat or drink anything for 6–8 hours before your procedure. Bring a list of all your current medications and tell us about any allergies — especially to iodine or contrast dye. Arrange for someone to drive you home, as you won’t be allowed to drive after sedation. Wear comfortable, loose clothing. Your FHVI care team will give you specific written instructions based on your individual situation when your appointment is scheduled.
A: No. Your blood vessels don’t have pain receptors, so you won’t feel the catheter as it’s threaded toward your heart. The only sensation during the procedure itself is the brief warm flush when contrast dye is injected — this is temporary and very common.
A: Finding a significant blockage isn’t automatically bad news — it’s actually what the test is designed to do. If your cardiologist finds a blockage, they’ll classify it by severity. A mild blockage may be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. A moderate-to-severe blockage may be treated on the spot with angioplasty and stenting. A very complex blockage may require a separate surgical discussion. You’ll know your results before you leave — your cardiologist will sit down with you and explain what was found and what the best next step is.
A: Yes. FHVI accepts Medicare, Medicaid, most major insurance plans, and self-pay patients. Cardiac catheterization at an independent cath lab like ours is typically significantly less expensive than the same procedure at a hospital setting. Call us at (352) 572-7730 and our team will verify your coverage before your appointment.
A: Yes. We have fully equipped cardiac catheterization labs at our Ocala SW 17th Street (Flagship), Ocala Lake Weir Avenue, and Davenport clinics. All three labs are staffed by board-certified interventional cardiologists. If you’re closest to another FHVI location, we can coordinate your care and schedule you at the nearest cath lab.