Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure that diagnoses and treats various heart conditions. Its primary purposes include evaluating heart health and identifying issues like coronary artery disease (CAD), valve disorders, congenital disabilities, and heart muscle function.
During the procedure, a catheter, a thin and flexible tube, is inserted into a blood vessel, usually in the groin or arm, and guided to the heart. Contrast dye is often injected through the catheter to enhance visualization of blood flow in the heart's arteries and chambers. This provides valuable diagnostic insights, such as detecting blockages in coronary arteries, assessing pressure levels within heart chambers, evaluating valve function, and identifying congenital abnormalities.
Cardiac catheterization also serves as a therapeutic intervention. Procedures like angioplasty and stent placement can be performed during catheterization to alleviate narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, thus improving blood flow to the heart muscle.
Your healthcare provider may refer you to a cardiologist if you have symptoms suggestive of CAD or other tests that require further evaluation.
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Special thanks to the New Brunswick Heart Centre, visit their website at nbheartcentre.ca/
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