what is a heart catheter
Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure that cardiologists, or heart specialists, use to evaluate heart function and diagnose cardiovascular conditions. During cardiac catheterization, a long narrow tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery or vein from either in your groin, neck, or arm. This catheter is threaded through your blood vessel until it reaches your heart. A dye can be injected through the catheter that allows your doctor to look at the vessels and chambers of the heart with the use of a special X-ray machine. Once the catheter is in place, your doctor can use it to run diagnostic tests.