Definition: An cardiac catheterization (sometimes called a cath) lets the doctor see the coronary arteries. A thin tube, called a catheter, is placed in an artery in either your arm or leg. The catheter is threaded up to your heart while your doctor watches on a screen.
The catheter will measure the blood pressure in your heart to see how well it is pumping blood. Then, a liquid is injected through the catheter into the artery, and x-rays are taken. The x-rays allow the doctor to see how much blockage there is and where it is located.
Cardiac catheterization is a test and not a treatment for unstable angina. A treatment called angioplasty looks and feels a lot like cardiac catheterization.
Preparation
Unless you are already in the hospital, this is an outpatient procedure with no special preparation. You may be instructed to not eat or drink prior to the procedure.
Pronunciation: kar'de-ak kath"e-ter-i-za'shun
Also Known As: angiogram, cardiac cath, heart cath, angiography
Common Misspellings: angeogram
Examples: Bob underwent a cardiac catheterization to help determine the cause for the chest pain he had this morning.