Overview
Cardiac catheterization (kath-uh-tur-ih-ZAY-shun) is a test or treatment for certain heart or blood vessel problems, such as clogged arteries or irregular heartbeats. It uses a thin, hollow tube called a catheter. The tube is guided through a blood vessel to the heart. Cardiac catheterization gives important details about the heart muscle, heart valves and blood vessels in the heart.
During the procedure, a doctor can test the pressures in the heart or do treatments such opening a narrowed artery. Sometimes a piece of heart tissue is removed for examination.
Usually, you are awake during cardiac catheterization but given medicines to help you relax. The risk of major complications is generally low.
Why it’s done
Cardiac catheterization is a common method to diagnose or treat a variety of heart problems. For example, your doctor may suggest cardiac catheterization if you have:
- Irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmias.
- Chest pain, called angina.
- Heart valve problems.
- Other heart problems.
You might need cardiac catheterization if you have, or your doctor thinks you have:
- Coronary artery disease.
- Congenital heart disease.
- Heart failure.
- Heart valve disease.
- Damage to the walls and inner lining of tiny blood vessels in the heart, called small vessel disease or coronary microvascular disease.
During cardiac catheterization, a doctor can:
- Look for narrowed or blocked blood vessels that could cause chest pain.
- Measure pressure and oxygen levels in different parts of the heart.
- See how well the heart pumps blood.
- Take a sample of tissue from your heart for examination under a microscope.
- Check the blood vessels for blood clots.
Cardiac catherization may be done at the same time as other heart procedures or heart surgery.
