
Purpose of Cardiac Catheterization
Diagnose Heart Diseases – Identifies blockages, heart defects, and valve problems.
Measure Heart Function – Assesses blood flow, oxygen levels, and pressure in heart chambers.
Perform Interventional Procedures – Includes angioplasty, stent placement, and valve repair.
Step-by-Step Procedure
Preparation – Patient is given a mild sedative; area of insertion is cleaned and numbed.
Catheter Insertion – A catheter is inserted through a blood vessel and guided to the heart using X-ray imaging.
Contrast Dye Injection – A special dye is injected to visualize blood flow in coronary arteries.
Imaging & Diagnosis – Doctors capture real-time images to detect any abnormalities.
Intervention (If Needed) – If a blockage is found, angioplasty or stent placement may be performed.
Completion & Recovery – The catheter is removed, and the patient is monitored for a few hours before discharge.
Benefits of Cardiac Catheterization
Provides precise diagnosis of heart conditions.
Minimally invasive with faster recovery time.
Enables immediate treatment if a blockage is detected.
Risks & Considerations
Possible bleeding or bruising at the catheter insertion site.
Rare complications include infection, blood clots, or allergic reaction to contrast dye.
Cardiac catheterization procedure
Heart condition diagnosis
Coronary angiography test
Minimally invasive heart test
Angioplasty and stent placement
Cardiac health assessment
Catheterization recovery time
Risks of cardiac catheterization