• Locate blockage or narrowing in your blood vessels which may be causing chest pain (angiogram)
• Measure the pressure and oxygen levels in different parts of your heart (hemodynamic assessment)
• Check the pumping function of your heart (ventriculogram)
• Take a sample tissue of your heart (biopsy)
• Diagnose heart defects which may be present from birth (congenital heart defects)
• Look for a problem with your heart valves

Cardiac catheterization can be used as a part of a few procedures to treat heart diseases. These procedures include:

• Angioplasty with or without stent placement
• Closure of holes in the heart and fixing other congenital defects
• Repair or replace heart valves
• Balloon valvuloplasty
• Heart arrhythmia treatment (ablation)
• Closing off part of the heart to prevent blood clots
• Alcohol septal ablation

Risks of cardiac catheterization

Some of the risks involved in cardiac catheterization procedure are:

• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Injury to the artery where the catheter was inserted which may require extra attention (pseudoaneurysm)
• Arrhythmias – irregular heartbeats
• Allergic reactions to the dye or medications
• Tearing of the tissue of either your heart or artery
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Kidney damage

How you prepare

Generally, cardiac catheterization is performed in a hospital. The test requires certain preparations. Before the test:

• Don’t drink or eat anything for at least 6 hours before the test or as directed by your doctor.
• Your doctor may advise you to stop taking blood thinners.
• Take all your medications with you to the test.
• Try to relax

What can you expect

Before the procedure

You will have your blood pressure and pulse checked, once you are admitted for your catheterization. You will also be asked to use the toilet to empty your bladder.
You will be asked to remove your dentures, jewelry, and necklaces especially if it interferes with the images of the heart. Then you will be asked to wait in the waiting room until its time for the procedure and you can also have wait there with you.

During the procedure

In an operating room, cardiac catheterization is done which has special X-ray and imaging machines that normal operating rooms do not have.
Generally, cardiac catheterization is performed while you are awake and sedated. Though some procedures such as ablation, valve repair or valve replacement made be done under anesthesia.
An IV line will be inserted in your arm or hand and will be used to give you extra medications you may need during your procedure. During the test, you will have electrodes placed on your chest to check your heartbeat.
Just before the procedure, a nurse or a technician will shave the hair from the site where the catheter will be inserted. You will be given a shot of anesthesia to numb the area before the catheter is inserted in your artery.
After you feel numb, the catheter will be inserted. A small cut is made to access your artery.
These are a few of the common uses of cardiac catheterization:

• Coronary angiogram
• Right heart catheterization
• Heart biopsy
• Repair of heart defects
• Balloon angioplasty with or without stenting
• Balloon valvuloplasty
• Valve replacement
• Heart ablation

After the procedure

Normally it takes about a few hours to recover from a cardiac catheterization. You will be taken to a recovery room while the anesthesia wears off after the procedure is done. This generally takes about an hour. After the procedure, unless you need to continue on blood-thinning medications, the plastic sheath that is covering the groin, arm or neck will be removed soon.
You will go to the regular hospital or outpatient room after you leave the recovery room. The nurse or technician who has removed your sheath will apply pressure to the insertion sites after the catheter is removed.
After the procedure, you may be able to eat and drink. The length of your stay in the hospital will depend on your condition. You can be able to go home the same day as your procedure or you may be asked to stay overnight if you have an additional procedure such as angioplasty and stent placement.

Results

If you are having cardiac catheterization as a test, your doctors will explain the results to you.
If you’ve had a coronary angiogram, your results would indicate which you need angioplasty, a stent or coronary bypass surgery. In a few cases, your angiogram can show which angioplasty would likely be an effective treatment to open a narrow artery. If your doctor finds this, he or she may perform angioplasty with or without a stent placement right away so that you will not require another cardiac catheterization.