The first cardiac catheterization boldly performed by Dr. Werner Forssmann, on himself, in 1929, marked the beginning of non-invasive heart surgery. Today, this procedure is primarily used to diagnose heart conditions and treat plaque buildup in arteries. Catheterization of the heart requires insertion of a thin, hollow tube into an artery at either the upper thigh, elbow or wrist. A doctor may recommend this procedure for three main reasons.
To Diagnose Heart Conditions
For a person having signs and symptoms of heart disease--such as chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular or rapid heart beat and dizziness--cardiac catheterization may be used to diagnose the type and severity of disease. A doctor may also order this procedure upon confirmation of a positive cardiac stress test and abnormal EKG, blood or urine test results. The diagnosis starts off with an injection of contrast dye through the catheter, which enables blood flow to be clearly traced throughout the heart and coronary arteries via X-ray imaging. After a diagnosis is made, the doctor determines whether treatment offered through catheterization, such as angioplasty and stenting, will suffice or if a patient needs a more invasive open-heart procedure.
To Treat Heart Conditions
Cardiac catheterization provides an effective, yet minimally invasive method for the treatment of heart disease caused by plaque-filled arteries. Highly specialized tools fitted onto the catheter are used to open up the clogged arteries through means of balloon angioplasty, stenting or atherectomy. Angioplasty involves inflating a small balloon on the catheter's tip to flatten plaque; stenting permanently places a wire mesh tube inside the artery to keep it open; and an atherectomy removes plaque with a miniaturized drill. Catheterization also plays an important role as an emergency procedure, in the event of a heart attack, to open up blocked arteries and prevent further damage to the heart.
To Monitor The Heart
Cardiac catheterization provides a direct method for monitoring the heart's structure and how well it is working. This procedure allows cardiologists to look at the physical landscape of the heart, including its valves, chambers and overall shape. A doctor uses catheterization as a monitoring tool for patients suspected of having a heart-related birth defect or for those about to have heart surgery. In doing so, she will determine the area of any defect or more constructively plan your surgical procedure. Cardiac catheterization also serves a purpose after heart surgery to measure the heart's improvement in function. For example, blood pressure in each of the heart's four chambers can be directly measured along with amount of blood flow to give an accurate indication of your heart's ability to receive and pump blood after a heart operation.
References
- "Pathophysiology of Heart Disease"; Leonard S. Lilly, M.D.; 2003
- MedlinePlus: Cardiac Catheterization
