What to Expect During Cardiac Catheterization

Abstract

Cardiac catheterization is a test during which flexible tubes called catheters are inserted into the heart via an artery or vein under x-ray guidance to diagnose and sometimes treat certain heart conditions. During right heart catheterization, a vein from the neck, arm, or leg is used to enter the right side of the heart to measure pressures and oxygen content. During left heart catheterization, an artery from the wrist, arm, or leg is used to enter the left side of the heart, usually to perform coronary angiography, which refers to the injection of contrast dye into the coronary arteries to determine the amount of blockage from atherosclerotic plaque. Cardiac catheterization is most often performed after completion of a history and physical examination and noninvasive cardiac testing such as an ECG, echocardiogram, or stress test to evaluate symptoms. Such symptoms commonly include chest pain (referred to as angina), shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, or palpitations. In addition to providing a roadmap of the coronary arteries, cardiac catheterization can help to determine how well the valves in between the chambers of the heart are working and how well the heart muscle is pumping. Cardiac catheterization provides definitive confirmation of narrowing in the coronary arteries and may also exclude the presence of coronary …