It is a diagnostic procedure which is performed in order to detect problems with the heart and its blood supply. It will help your physician determine which treatment is most appropriate for you. The catheterization procedure will provide a great deal of information about your heart function. It shows the heart's pumping ability, the pressure within the various heart chambers, detailed structural information about the heart and blood vessels, and the pattern of flow within the heart and major blood vessels.
Heart catheterization is often an outpatient procedure.
Generally, cardiac catheterization takes place in a specialized cardiac catheterization laboratory. Your heart and blood pressure will be monitored throughout the procedure. The normal points of entry are either the groin area or the forearm. The immediate skin area is numbed with a local anesthetic, which is administered through a needle. You will feel an initial pin prick as the needle is inserted, and then a burning sensation as the anesthetic is injected.