Cardiology: Invasive

Cardiac catheterization is frequently used for diagnosis of a wide variety of heart conditions. This procedure involves a long thin tube (the catheter) being inserted into an artery in the patient's arm, groin, or veins of groin, arm or neck, and then guided through the circulatory system to the heart.

Cardiac catheterizations may be done to assess coronary arteries for blockages and/or to assess the status of heart valves. Pressures in the various chambers of the heart and lungs can be measured to determine the function of the heart. Depending on the findings, coronary and other interventions may be performed to place a stent into the diseased artery or vein.

A right heart catheterization measures pressures in the right side of the heart and the arteries of the lungs, along with how much blood the heart is pumping. It helps evaluate conditions such as heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and certain valve problems, and guides treatment decisions.

A coronary angiogram uses a special dye and X-ray imaging to show blood flow through the arteries of the heart. It identifies narrowed or blocked arteries and helps determine whether medication, a stent, or surgery is the best treatment.

Atherectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that removes plaque from inside an artery using a small cutting, shaving or laser device on the tip of a catheter. It is often used to restore blood flow in heavily calcified arteries of the heart or legs.

A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) uses a thin ultrasound probe passed into the esophagus to obtain highly detailed images of the heart. It is especially useful for evaluating heart valves, detecting blood clots, and planning procedures such as cardioversion.

Electrical cardioversion delivers a brief, controlled electrical shock to the chest, under sedation, to restore a normal heart rhythm in patients with arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter.

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a small opening between the upper chambers of the heart that did not close after birth. In selected patients, such as those who have had certain types of stroke, the opening can be closed with a catheter-delivered device, without open-heart surgery.

For patients with a significant blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), catheter-based treatment can remove the clot (thrombectomy) or dissolve it with medication delivered directly to the clot (thrombolysis), rapidly improving blood flow and relieving strain on the heart.

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Along with blood-thinning medication, minimally invasive catheter techniques can remove or dissolve large clots to relieve symptoms and lower the risk of long-term complications.