Heart Catheterization

Heart catheterization (or cardiac catheterization) is an X-ray procedure that introduces a catheter through a vessel in the groin or the arm. Numbing medicine is used to prepare the site so that minimal discomfort should occur during the procedure. The catheter is then advanced toward the heart to the base of the aorta where the coronary arteries originate. When the tip of the catheter reaches the opening of these arteries, a contrast agent is then injected which illuminates the vessels under X-ray examination. Your doctor can see if there are any obstructions in the three main arteries of the heart. During the procedure, your doctor will place a catheter in the left ventricle (the main pumping chamber) to take some pressure measurements as well as inject more contrast to see how well the heart is functioning. During this part of the examination, you will have a brief warm sensation that will pass in about a minute. The entire procedure should take about 30 minutes.