Right Heart Catheterization A small plastic tube called a "catheter" is inserted into a vein in your neck or leg and advanced to the heart. The doctor can measure blood pressures and blood flow in the right side of your heart. Measuring the pressures in the chambers of the heart can provide great information on the function of valves which separate the chambers. Sometimes a small piece of tissue called a "biopsy' is taken from the heart and examined to help diagnose your heart problem.
Left Heart Catheterization A small plastic tube called a "catheter" is inserted into an artery in your groin or wrist. Your doctor may want pictures of your heart valves in which case angiography or fluoroscopy is performed (see below). Ventriculography is a picture of the pumping chamber of the heart and can be very helpful in understanding the type and severity of a heart valve problem.
Coronary Angiography X-ray pictures are taken of dye injected into your arteries during a heart catheterization in order to evaluate the heart valves. A treatment plan is developed with your doctor if any problems are identified.
Fluoroscopy Real-time x-ray images are taken of dye injected into your arteries during a heart catheterization in order to view and evaluate the heart valves. A treatment plan is developed with your doctor if any problems are identified.
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