Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a procedure used to diagnose and treat different types of heart disease. Cardiologists can use this procedure to find out if you have a blockage or narrowing of blood vessels in your heart, check how well your heart pumps blood, take a sample of tissue from your heart (biopsy), measure the oxygen level and blood pressure in different parts of your heart, and look for problems with the valves of your heart. The procedure can also allow your cardiologist to widen a narrow area of a blood vessel (angioplasty), place a stent to make sure the blood vessel stays open, treat irregular heart rhythm, fix a hole or other congenital problem, and repair or replace a heart valve.

Why choose Presbyterian for a cardiac catheterization?

Presbyterian Heart and Vascular Care’s catheterization lab offers many different options for your cardiac catheterization. Our team can perform more traditional catheterizations, or you may be able to have a newer, less-invasive procedure. One of the new options is the hybrid lab. A wide variety of cardiac procedures can be performed in the hybrid lab, allowing for shorter hospital stays and faster recovery time.

Who is eligible for a cardiac catheterization?

If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, known congenital heart problems, or other diagnoses as determined by your healthcare team, you might need a cardiac catheterization. Many times this procedure is used to diagnose a specific problem and help your team develop a treatment plan for you.

What conditions can be treated with a cardiac catheterization procedure?

• Blocked blood vessels in the heart

• Chest pain (angina) not well controlled with medication

• Chronic shortness of breath

• Coronary artery disease

• Disease of the aorta

• Heart failure with coronary artery disease

• Heart valve disease