Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions. It allows doctors to take a close look at the heart to detect problems and perform other tests or procedures on your heart.

Your doctor may recommend cardiac catheterization to determine the cause of symptoms such as chest pain or an irregular heartbeat, or to find out if you have ischemic heart disease due to blockages in the coronary arteries. Before the procedure, your doctor may need to run diagnostic tests, such as blood tests, heart imaging tests, or a stress test, to determine how well your heart is working and to guide the procedure.

During cardiac catheterization, a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is placed into a blood vessel in your arm, groin, or thigh or neck. The catheter is then threaded to your heart. Your doctor can use it to examine your heart valves or to take blood or heart muscle samples. Your doctor may also use ultrasound or inject a dye into your coronary arteries to see if your arteries are narrowed or blocked. Cardiac catheterization can also be used in place of some heart surgeries to repair heart defects and replace heart valves.

Cardiac catheterization is safe for most people. Complications are rare but can include bleeding and blood clots. Your doctor will monitor your condition and may recommend medications to prevent blood clots.