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Cardiac Catheterization Procedure (Cardiac Cath, Coronary Arteriogram, Coronary Angiogram) Procedure Overview What is cardiac catheterization? Cardiac catheterization is performed to further diagnose coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, congestive heart failure, and/or certain congenital (present at birth) heart conditions, such as atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect, when other less invasive types of diagnostic tests indicate the presence of one of these conditions. In cardiac...

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) and Stent Placement (PTCA, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, PCI) Procedure Overview What is percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)? Click Image to Enlarge Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is performed to open blocked coronary arteries caused by coronary artery disease (CAD) and to restore arterial blood flow to the heart tissue without open-heart surgery. A special catheter (long hollow tube) is inserted into th...

Cardiac Catheterization in Children What is a cardiac catheterization? Cardiac catheterization is a specialized procedure in which a long, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a vein and guided into the heart, allowing a close look at the structures inside. It may also be performed for the following reasons: to obtain diagnostic information, such as pressures and oxygen saturations in various parts of the heart to obtain cardiac tissue samples for biopsy to open the atrial septum in congenital (pre...

Problems Affecting the Coronary Arteries and Blood Vessels There are many problems that affect the coronary arteries and blood vessels that require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides Food Basics Heart Healthy Eating High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents

Cardiac Catheterization What is a cardiac catheterization (also called cardiac cath)? In cardiac catheterization (often abbreviated as "cath"), a very small catheter (hollow tube) is advanced from an artery in the groin (or sometimes the arm) through the aorta into the heart. Once the catheter is in place, several diagnostic techniques may be used. The tip of the catheter can be placed into various parts of the heart to measure the pressure within the chambers. The catheter can be advanced into the coro...

Cardiac Diagnostic Tests New and advanced diagnostic tests and tools are constantly being introduced to further understand the complexity of disease, injury, and congenital or acquired abnormalities. The following are just a few of the diagnostic tests that have been used/are being used to further understand and identify cardiovascular disease. For more specific information, consult your cardiologist or physician. Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) A test that records the electrical activity of the heart, s...

Cardiac Procedures The following procedures are often used in the evaluation and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Consult your physician or heart care professional for more specific information. Cardiac procedures for abnormal heart rhythms: catheter ablation This procedure uses radio waves or freezing to silence an abnormal area in the heart's electrical system, which is usually found during an electrophysiology study. permanent pacemaker A permanent pacemaker is inserted into the patient's heart a...

Coronary Heart Disease Click Image to Enlarge What are the coronary arteries? Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. Like all other tissues in the body, the heart muscle needs oxygen-rich blood to function, and oxygen-depleted blood must be carried away. The coronary arteries consist of two main arteries: the right and left coronary arteries. The left coronary artery system branches into the circumflex artery and the left anterior descending artery. What are the different coronary arteries?...

Topic Index Basic Anatomy of the Heart Anatomy and Function of the Heart's Electrical System Anatomy and Function of the Coronary Arteries Anatomy and Function of the Heart Valves Statistics Cardiac Diagnostic Tests Vital Signs Cardiac Procedures Cardiac Rehabilitation Cardiac Conditions and Diseases Stroke (Brain Attack) Vascular Conditions and Diseases Preventing Cardiovascular Disease Glossary The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and blood vessels. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), as defin...

What Is Angioplasty? The heart is an amazing muscle. It beats an average 100,000 times daily to pump almost 2,000 gallons of blood. As we age, our coronary arteries become lined with fatty material that can interfere with blood flow. This process is called atherosclerosis. This can starve the heart of the oxygen-rich blood we need to survive. When the lack of blood flow to the heart reaches a critical stage, you could suffer a heart attack. One symptom of a blocked artery is a type of chest pain called ...