Catheterization Lab: Information for Patients

What is Cardiac Catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization (sometimes called coronary angiography) is one of a variety of diagnostic tests our cardiologists use to evaluate how well the heart is functioning, and whether the arteries are narrowed or blocked. Since cardiac catheterization involves some risk, our physicians usually recommend it only after other, lower-risk tests (such as electrocardiography, an exercise EKG, or an echocardiogram) indicate the possibility of a serious problem of the heart or its blood vessels.

This invasive diagnostic procedure will help your physician determine whether surgery or another type of procedure is needed to open the blocked blood vessels.

To perform a cardiac catheterization, a thin, flexible tube (a catheter) is threaded through a blood vessel in the arm or leg and into the heart with the aid of a special x-ray machine. By using the catheter, the doctor can measure pressures, take blood samples, and inject a special, harmless dye into the coronary arteries or chambers of the heart. Movement of the dye through the heart and the blood vessels will reveal the location and severity of any blockages.

Additional Information:

Read more about cardiac catheterization, how to prepare for the procedure, information about how it is done, associated risks and results. If you are about to undergo heart catheterization a review on recovering from heart catheterization may be very useful to you.