Interventional cardiology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of certain heart problems through the use of catheters. Cardiac catheterization is a procedure used to place the catheter, which is a long, thin tube, in the heart or a nearby artery. During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the arm, groin or neck area and guided to the heart.
When the catheter reaches the heart, it can be used to:
Cardiac catheterization is usually performed in a hospital but does not require the use of anesthesia. It is a safe procedure with little to no pain and a low risk of complications.