What is Cardiac Catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat heart conditions. It involves inserting a thin tube called a catheter into a blood vessel and threading it to the heart. This allows doctors to take pictures of the heart, measure its pressures, and collect samples of blood or heart tissue.

Description

During cardiac catheterization, the patient is usually awake but sedated. The catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the arm, groin, or neck and guided to the heart using X-ray imaging. Once in place, various procedures can be performed, such as measuring blood flow and pressure in the heart's chambers, injecting contrast dye for imaging, or even performing treatments like angioplasty to open blocked arteries.

Uses

Cardiac catheterization is used to diagnose and treat a range of heart conditions. It is commonly used to diagnose coronary artery disease, heart valve problems, and congenital heart defects. Additionally, it can be used to treat conditions such as opening blocked arteries with a balloon or stent, repairing heart defects, or performing other procedures to improve heart function.