Diagnosis of a congenital heart defect and valvular-heart disease. Measurement of the heart muscle's ability to pump blood. Identification of narrowing or obstruction in the coronary arteries. Alcoholism or chronic illness. The cardiac catheter is inserted into an artery in the patient's arm or leg.
Fluoroscopy provides guidance for the catheter to pass through the artery to the heart.
Blood-pressure readings are taken, and the heart's ability to pump blood is tested. The catheter is guided into the coronary-artery system. Dye injection allows identification of any disease in the coronary arteries. When all examinations have been completed, the catheter is withdrawn, and the artery into which it was inserted is compressed until bleeding stops. If an arm artery was used, it may need to be repaired.