Cardiac catheterization involves the passage of a catheter into a blood vessel in the leg or arm. The catheter is guided through the blood vessels into the cardiac chambers and coronary arteries. Doctors use cardiac catheterization to perform various tests, evaluate heart muscle function and to diagnose and treat many heart conditions.
Identify Heart Conditions
According to the Cleveland Clinic, cardiac catheterization can be used to evaluate heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease refers to the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries. Cardiac catheterization can identify the site of the narrowing or blockage in the coronary artery.
Treat Heart Conditions
Cardiac catheterization can assist in the treatment of heart conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, people who have coronary heart disease or who have suffered from a heart attack can benefit from the procedure. The doctor can treat the heart conditions by performing an angioplasty. The doctor inserts a tiny balloon through the catheter into the blocked artery. The balloon gets inflated once it's in the blocked artery. An angioplasty opens up the blocked artery and prevents further damage to the heart.
Evaluate Heart Function
Cardiac catheterization helps doctors to evaluate heart function. Valves control the flow of blood in the heart and the procedure shows how well the valves work at the openings and exits of the heart chambers, reports the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Heart Defects
Cardiac catheterization can show the overall shape of the heart and the heart chambers inside it. The procedure can show certain heart defects and it also helps the doctor perform heart surgery to correct the defects. The doctor places catheters in the arteries and veins of the groin and neck, and then inserts a device into the heart to repair the defect, states MayoClinic.com.
Heart Biopsy
The doctor may take samples of the heart muscle through the catheter if a heart infection or tumor exists, reports the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. A device that has a small, jaw-like tip goes through the catheter and cuts a small sample of tissue from the heart, notes MayoClinic.com.
