Cardiac (heart) Catheterization is a procedure done to help your doctor diagnose diseases of the heart such as blocked arteries, heart valve defects or heart muscle damage to determine whether additional treatment is necessary.
This procedure involves the insertion of a small tube, or catheter, into a blood vessel in the leg. The catheter is then guided through this blood vessel to your heart with the aid of a special x-ray machine. When the catheter is correctly positioned, a small amount of “x-ray” dye is injected and allows the physician to visualize blockages in the heart’s arteries.
