What is cardiac catheterization?

Angiogram: If your doctor suspects you have significant coronary artery disease, he or she may recommend that you undergo cardiac catheterization (also called an angiogram). During catheterization, x-ray dye is injected into the coronary arteries and pictures are taken. In patients with coronary artery disease, the pictures show the actual blockages and their severity.

See below: A long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is put into a blood vessel in your arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck and threaded to your heart.Your doctor may put a special type of dye in the catheter. The dye will flow through your bloodstream to your heart. Then, your doctor will take x-ray pictures of your heart. The dye will make your coronary (heart) arteries visible on the pictures.

Tubes & X-Ray Info: A tube in inserted via a peripheral artery &/or vein, passed through the vessel to the heart arteries & into &/or through the heart chambers to measure pressure, blood flow &/or "see blood" via dye injected into the blood flowing through artery(s) &/or vein(s) near/around heart. Dye in the blood makes blood column show on X-Ray for a few seconds to see outline of artery &/or heart chamber opening.

Takes a picture: Cardiac catheterization is used to take a picture of the arteries of the heart, the pumping chambers of the heart, the valves of the heart, and to make hemodynamics measurements regarding the function of the heart.

Catheterization : A site is numbed over the groin or radial artery. A catheter is introduced and passed under fluoroscopy to the heart where measurements and pictures are recorded. When done catheter removed, wound closed and patient recovered. The study provides accurate information about the heart and heart arteries for decision making and diagnosis.

Cath: Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat some heart conditions. A long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is put into a blood vessel in the arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck and guided to the heart. Through the catheter, diagnostic tests e.g. Pressure measurements and imaging of coronary arteries, as well as treatments can be done on the heart.

Diagnose ; treat: A cardiac catheterization is test done in an special x-ray suite (catheterization laboratory) where long, thin, flexible tubes are directed to the heart through veins and/or arteries to diagnose and treat various forms of heart disease. In the best hands, this is an important tool with valuable results and low risks.