Tag: Cardiac catheterization

With millions of cardiac catheterizations performed annually in the US, anxiety and discomfort are common concerns for patients. Knowing what premedication is used for cardiac catheterization is key to understanding how these issues are managed during the procedure.

According to the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, aspirin use before angioplasty is a Class I recommendation. The vast majority of patients scheduled for a diagnostic coronary angiogram should not stop aspirin before the procedure and, in many cases, are instructed to take their regular dose on the morning of the procedure.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), updated guidance recommends discontinuing metformin for at-risk patients undergoing intra-arterial procedures like an angiogram. The duration depends on a patient's kidney function, and the process includes a critical follow-up test. This guide will detail **how long to hold metformin before an angiogram** and the reasons behind the protocol.