RHC is the gold standard test to diagnose pulmonary hypertension. It measures the pressure and blood flow in both your heart and lungs. Doctors also use it to diagnose heart failure and other conditions.

During RHC, doctors pass a small tube called a catheter into a blood vessel in your neck, groin, or arm. Then it goes through the right side of the heart and into the main artery leading to the lungs.

While the catheter travels through the heart, doctors take pressure readings. The doctor may also take a blood sample from the end of the tube for further testing.

You’re a good candidate for RHC if we think you might have pulmonary hypertension or certain heart conditions. RHC is an invasive test. We won’t order it until we’ve looked at X-rays and CT scans of your heart and lungs.

At Carilion, we use RHC to diagnose:

• Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the lungs.
• Heart failure: When the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should.
• Heart disease: When the heart isn’t working right. Includes congenital heart disease, heart valve disease, and cardiomyopathy.

The doctors in our pulmonary hypertension program are specialists in diagnosing and treating high blood pressure in the lungs. They team with interventional cardiologists  to perform RHC.

Before your procedure

Your RHC will take place in 1 of our 6 high-tech cardiac catheterization labs, also called cath labs. Your doctor will give you instructions on when to stop eating, drinking, or taking medicine before your procedure. 

You’ll get sedation, so you should plan for someone to drive you home afterwards. It’s also helpful to have a loved one with you to listen to the results of the test. With preparation and recovery time, plan to be at the cath lab for several hours.

You’ll wear a hospital gown and lie down on a padded table. A nurse will give you medicine through an IV to help you relax, but you’ll be awake during the procedure.

We’ll attach electrodes to your chest to monitor your heart. Then we’ll numb the area where the catheter goes into the vein.

During the procedure

Your doctor will use a special tool to insert the catheter into a vein in your groin, neck, or arm. They’ll move it through the right side of your heart and into the pulmonary artery. As the tube moves along, they'll take pressure readings and possibly a blood sample.

The test will take about an hour.

Recovering from your right heart catheterization

After the test, you’ll stay in a recovery room where nurses can monitor you. You should be able to go home the same day. 

Your doctor will tell you how soon you can return to normal activities like driving and work. It’s usually within a week or less.