What is a heart catheterization and why do I need one?
A heart catheterization – otherwise known as heart cath, coronary angiogram or coronary arteriograms – is an invasive test done to determine whether there are any blockages in the coronary arteries or valvular heart disease. A small plastic catheter is inserted into the femoral artery and threaded up to the heart. X-ray dye is then injected into the coronary arteries and an x-ray is taken to show whether there is any narrowing or blockage of the artery. If valvular heart disease is suspected, pressure readings are taken within the heart to determine how severe the problem is. This information enables your cardiologist to appropriately treat you either with invasive therapy or with medications.
Related Questions
- Can the performance of heart catheterization though the radial artery in a patient suffering of chronical renal failure to compromise the possibility of performance of hemodyalisis in the future?
- Why does a child with a normal heart undergo cardiac catheterization?
- What happens after the heart catheterization procedure?
