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Heart catheterization

Introduction

The purpose of this tool is to help you decide whether or not to have a heart catheterization. When making a decision like this, you must balance:

• The reasons for having the test
• The potential health risks, drawbacks, or limitations of the procedure
• Whether there are alternative procedures that may be more appropriate
• Cost

This tool is not a substitute for professional medical care and advice. Work with your doctor to help you make this decision. A second opinion from another doctor may be valuable. There is usually no exact “right” or “wrong” answer.

Your physician may make certain recommendations to you. However, the final decision about whether to have this test rests with you.

What is the test?

Heart catheterization involves passing a catheter (a thin flexible tube) into the right or left side of the heart. In general, this procedure is performed to obtain diagnostic information about the heart or its blood vessels or to provide treatment in certain types of heart conditions.

Heart catheterization can be used to determine pressure and blood flow in the heart's chambers, collect blood samples from the heart, and examine the arteries of the heart with an x-ray technique called fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy provides immediate visualization of the x-ray images on a screen and a permanent record of the procedure.

Key points

Benefits:

• Heart catheterization is the standard test for evaluating the heart’s blood supply, internal pressures, and function.
• Heart catheterization allows health care providers to rapidly assess any narrowing (or blockages) in the arteries that supply the heart with blood.
• Heart catheterization allows health care providers to directly see the heart arteries, while a treadmill stress test lets a doctor only estimate how well blood is flowing to the heart.
• Heart catheterization allows health care providers to determine possible changes in the heart’s arteries.
• Heart catheterization may allow doctors to determine the degree of any narrowing (stenosis) of the heart valves.
• Heart catheterization allows doctors to determine if there are areas of the heart that need surgery to receive better blood flow.
• Heart catheterization allows your doctor to proceed with angioplasty and stenting if your blocked or narrowed artery needs immediate attention.

Risks:

• Some bleeding or bruising at the site of the catheter insertion is common.
• IV dye (contrast) is used during the test. The dye may be toxic to the kidneys, particularly in patients with kidney disease.
• Rarely, stroke, heart attack, or death may occur.

How much time this decision tool will take

• 5 - 10 minutes

What this tool will provide

• A personalized list of factors for you to weigh
• Questions to ask your doctor
• Alternatives to this test
• Recommended reading

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