Cardiac Catheterization Procedure

Very common way to determine how to treat a heart condition.

A heart specialist will insert a catheter, which is a very small tube, through the artery or a vein through the neck, arm or groin and run through the vessels to your heart.

Doctor is checking for any blockages, how your heart is pumping, as well as pressure , oxygen levels in heart or lungs, defects, blockages, and could also perform a biopsy by taking very small tissue samples.

The procedure will guide the physician in correcting blocked arteries by angioplasty , adding stents into blocked arteries , closing holes in the heart , correcting heart defects, repairing heart valves, performing an ablation procedure to treat heart rhythm disorders and closing off parts of the heart to prevent blood clotting.

The procedure is done in a hospital setting by a very skilled cardiologist.

Medication will be given for relaxation and light sedation.

Live X Rays will help guide the doctor in determining where the catheter should be placed with the help contrast dye injected to see where the arteries may be blocked.