Cardiac Catheterization

The process of Cardiac Catheterization is used to evaluate the blood flow through the heart valves, the arteries on the heart, and the strength of the heart muscle. This is accomplished through the use of catheters to biopsy the heart. Pictures are also taken with a special camera/computer. Generally, the catheterization procedure will last about 30 minutes and involves inserting a long, thin tube into the artery or vein in the groin. The thin tube is guided to the heart and a dye is infused into the arteries and heart chambers.