Cardiac Catheterization and Coronary Angiography
Procedure:
Catheters are placed via a sheath (narrow tube) in the artery of the groin or arm, advanced into the heart, and pictures are taken with injectable contrast dye and X-ray.
Major Indications:
- Unstable angina or Chest pain [uncontrolled with medications or after a heart attack]
- Heart attack
- Before a bypass surgery
- Abnormal treadmill test results
- Determine the extent of coronary artery disease
- Disease of the heart valve causing symptoms (syncope, shortness of breath)
- To monitor rejection in heart transplant patients
- Syncope or loss of consciousness in patients with aortic valve disease
