Cardiac Catheterization: Definition, Clinical Significance, and Overview
Cardiac Catheterization is a procedure in which a thin tube (catheter) is guided through a blood vessel into the heart and great vessels. It is used in cardiology as a diagnostic test and, in many cases, as a therapy. It helps assess coronary arteries, heart chamber pressures, oxygen levels, and valve function. It is commonly performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory (“cath lab”) for both urgent and planned evaluations.