Swan-Ganz - Right Heart Catheterization

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How to Prepare for the Test?

Adults:

You should not consume any food or fluid for 8 hours before the procedure. You may need to be admitted to the hospital the night before the procedure. Otherwise, you will be admitted as an outpatient or inpatient the morning of the procedure, if the procedure is elective. In critically ill patients, the test may be carried out in the intensive care unit.

You will wear a hospital gown and will provide a witnessed, signed consent for the procedure. A health care provider will explain the procedure and its risks. A mild sedative is usually given 30 minutes before the procedure.

Infants and children:

The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

• Infant test/procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• Toddler test/procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• Preschooler test/procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• Schoolage test/procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• Adolescent test/procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)