What is a cardiac catheterization?

A cardiac catheterization is a procedure used to diagnose and treat various cardiovascular conditions. It is usually performed in addition to an angiogram, or an x-ray of blood and lymph vessels. Cardiac catheterization involves the insertion of a thin tube, or catheter, into the patient’s artery in their groin, neck, or arm. It is then passed through the blood vessels to the heart. This helps doctors determine the health of the patient’s heart and blood vessels. It can be used to diagnose common heart and blood vessel problems like chest pain or an abnormal stress test due to coronary artery disease, heart valve conditions like a leaky or narrowed valve, a high blood pressure condition in the lungs, blood clots in the lungs, and an enlarged heart.