Cardiac catheterization is a diagnostic and sometimes therapeutic procedure used to examine how well the heart and its blood vessels are functioning. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the heart. Contrast dye is often injected to visualize the heart chambers, coronary arteries, and heart valves with X-ray imaging. The procedure helps diagnose conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, and congenital heart defects, and can be used for interventions like angioplasty or stent placement. Patients may experience mild discomfort, and sedatives or local anesthesia are commonly used. Risks are present but uncommon and are discussed with the physician before the procedure.
Introduction to Cardiac Catheterization
