Cardiac Catheterization

In a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, the interventional cardiologist inserts a tiny catheter (tube) into a patient’s artery. The catheter is guided by the cardiologist, with the assistance of highly sophisticated imaging equipment, to blood vessels near the patient’s heart. Once the proper position is secured, the doctor and cath lab staff inject a small amount of dye to allow the arteries to become visible on a moving X-ray. In addition, the internal pressure and structure of the heart’s valves and chambers can be seen and measured. Many people call this procedure a “heart cath.”

A heart cath is a highly effective tool for accurately assessing the severity of heart disease and planning appropriate treatment. Patients are referred to this procedure by their family doctor or cardiologist, who will collaborate with an interventional cardiologist to schedule a procedure.

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