Cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into your heart through an artery in your leg or groin and threaded into the chambers of your heart. Then, the catheter is used to obtain blood samples from the heart. Your doctor may recommend Tomball cardiac catheterization if you have coronary artery disease (CAD) symptoms. These are symptoms such as chest pain or angina pectoris.
You may also be referred for cardiac catheterization if you have had a myocardial infarction or heart attack and have symptoms of CAD such as shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or weight gain.
Cardiac catheterization can help identify:
- Coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a term that refers to a narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to your heart. It can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and an irregular heartbeat. Cardiac catheterization diagnosis CAD and other heart problems such as valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias.
- Heart valve disease
The other common reason for cardiac catheterization is to evaluate valve diseases such as stenosis and regurgitation. These conditions may cause symptoms similar to CAD, such as angina and palpitations or irregular heartbeat.
- Identify blockages or narrowing in arteries that supply blood to the heart
Cardiac catheterization may be performed if you have symptoms that suggest an issue with these vessels, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. The test examines enlarged aortas, the large arteries that carry blood away from the heart and other signs of atherosclerosis, a plaque build-up in the arteries. It also helps discover any blockages in major vessels that supply blood to other organs, including the brain.
- Heart rhythm disorders
Certain diseases cause abnormal heart rhythms that can lead to problems with pumping blood throughout the body. Cardiac catheterization allows doctors to see and record these rhythms, which helps them determine whether you need medication and surgery to correct the problem.
Cardiac catheterization also lets doctors evaluate how well blood flows through your lungs and kidneys, indicating abnormalities in those organs that require treatment or surgery.
- Pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension occurs when the blood vessels in the lungs stiffen and narrow, restricting blood flow to the lungs. This can cause serious health problems, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and even death if left untreated.
In some cases, cardiac catheterization may be needed before a patient can undergo surgery for pulmonary hypertension.
- It can help determine if you have an abnormal heart valve or other problem with your heart
Cardiac catheterization procedure uses a small, flexible tube to introduce a catheter into the bloodstream. In cardiac catheterization, the patient is placed under general anesthesia and on a treatment table. Cardiac catheterization involves using X-ray and fluoroscopy to identify what is causing your chest pain. The fluoroscopy will allow your doctor to see inside your heart and lungs. This helps determine if you have an abnormal heart valve or other problem with your heart.
Cardiac catheterization or angiocardiography medical procedure involves inserting a long, thin tube called a catheter into the heart. This examination lets doctors assess the heart’s structure and function, as well as its blood flow, autonomic nerves, and valves. Health specialists at Cardiovascular Institute, P.A. may perform cardiac catheterization to determine whether coronary bypass surgery or another type of heart surgery would be appropriate for you. Get in touch today.