Cardiac Catheterization: A Million Times a Year, Saving Hearts
Cardiac catheterization, a common procedure performed over a million times annually in the US, is a vital tool for evaluating heart function and diagnosing cardiovascular conditions. Invented in 1929 by Werner Forssmann, this technique offers a low-risk, high-reward approach to understanding and treating heart and blood vessel issues.
During the procedure, a catheter is inserted into an artery or vein, typically in the upper thigh, neck, or arm, and guided through the blood vessel until it reaches the heart. Once there, the doctor can perform various tests or treatments. These may include injecting a dye to visualize the heart's vessels and chambers using an X-ray machine, taking a biopsy of heart tissue for analysis, or performing an ablation to correct irregular heartbeats.
Cardiac catheterization is used to diagnose and treat a range of heart and blood vessel problems, such as narrowed or blocked blood vessels, heart valve issues, or to take heart tissue samples. After the procedure, the catheter and sheath are removed, and the access site is closed up using a suture, clip, collagen plug, or manual pressure.
This minimally invasive procedure helps prevent heart attacks and strokes by providing accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. With a very low risk of serious complications, cardiac catheterization is a crucial tool in modern cardiology, performed by specialists in hospitals across the country.
