What Is a Cardiac Catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure. It can be used to diagnose or treat heart problems. It is also known as heart catheterization, heart cath, or cardiac cath. Cardiac catheterization may be done to see how well the heart is working. It may also be used to do some minor heart surgeries.^1,2

How is cardiac catheterization performed?

Before the procedure, you may be given medicine to help you relax. During the procedure, a thin tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel in the legs or arms. The area where the catheter goes in will be numbed first. X-ray or ultrasound images are used to help guide the tube toward the heart.²

Heart catheterization can be used for different procedures. For example, using the catheter, a dye can be injected into the blood vessels near the heart. The dye makes it easy to see the blood flow on an X-ray. Seeing the blood flow helps your doctor know whether any of the blood vessels are blocked.¹

The exact procedure can be different depending on the reason for doing a cardiac catheterization. Follow any instructions your doctor gives you about what to do before, during, and after the procedure.^1-3

Why is cardiac catheterization performed?

Your doctor will use imaging and blood tests to decide if you need a cardiac catheterization and what it should be used for. Procedures that can done using a heart cath include:^1-3

• Checking the pressure in the different areas of the heart
• Checking the oxygen levels of the blood near the heart by taking blood samples
• Seeing blood flow near the heart
• Performing a heart biopsy (taking a piece of the heart muscle for lab tests)
• Seeing how well the heart is able to pump blood and if there is any damage to the heart
• Seeing if there is buildup on coronary arteries (blood vessels that supply blood to the heart) and how the buildup changes over time with treatments
• Finding out if there are any problems with the structure of the heart

Some heart problems may be treated using cardiac catheterization. Minor surgeries can be done by adding a special instrument to the tip of the catheter and bringing it near the heart to fix specific issues. This lessens the need for open-heart surgery. Examples of minor surgeries that can be done with cardiac catheterization include:^1-3

• Fixing a heart defect
• Replacing the heart valve
• Placing a tubing or a stent in blocked arteries near the heart to keep the blood flowing
• Treating irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

Who might need a cardiac catheterization?

Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure. It may be recommended for people who are experiencing chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or other heart-related symptoms. A heart catheterization can help find the underlying cause for these symptoms. It can be used to diagnose:^1-4

• Coronary artery disease
• Heart valve diseases
• Cardiomyopathy
• Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in your lungs)
• Heart defects

What are the risks of cardiac catheterization?

Some of the risks associated with cardiac catheterization include:^1-4

• Blood clots
• Allergic reaction to the dye used during the procedure
• Infection
• Irregular heartbeat
• Damage to the blood vessels or the heart
• Stroke
• Heart attack

Talk to your doctor about what to expect during and after the procedure. Seek medical help immediately if you experience:^1,2

• Excess bleeding, swelling, or white liquid coming from the area where the catheter was inserted
• Numbness in the leg or arm where the catheter was inserted
• Fever
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular or fast heartbeat