Cardiac Catheterization Procedure
Cardiac catheterization involves passing a thin flexible tube (catheter) into the right or left side of the heart, usually from the groin or the arm.
Alternative Names
Catheterization - cardiac; Heart catheterization
How the test is performed
You will be given a mild sedative before the test to help you relax. An intravenous (IV) line is inserted into one of the blood vessels in your arm, neck, or groin after the site has been cleansed and numbed with a local numbing medicine (anesthetic).
Read moreMore information on "Cardiac Catheterization Procedure"
From Our Sources
Left heart catheterization
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Left heart catheterization is the passage of a thin flexible tube (catheter) into the left side of the heart to diagnose or treat certain heart... Read more »
Swan-Ganz: right heart catheterization
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Swan-Ganz catheterization is the passing of a thin tube (catheter) into the right side of the heart and the arteries leading to the lungs to monitor... Read more »
Cardiac Catheterization
Source: HealthCentral Encyclopedia
Cardiac catheterization is the procedure of inserting a thin, hollow tube into a blood vessel in the legor, less often the arm, then passing it into... Read more »
Doctors Too Quick to Use Cardiac Catheterization: Study
Results from a new study published in New England Journal of Medicine have found that most people who enter emergency rooms with chest pain will... Read more »
Cardiac Catheterization: A Patient Guide
What is cardiac catheterization? A diagnostic procedure performed to detect problems with the heart and its blood supply a catheter is inserted into... Read more »
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
