Cardiac catheterization

Introduction into the cavity of the heart through the peripheral veins and arteries of special catheters. Applied for the diagnosis of complex heart defects, clarifying the indications and contraindications to the surgical treatment of a number of heart, vascular and lung diseases, to identify and assess cardiac, coronary and pulmonary insufficiency.
Any special preparation of the patient does not require catheterization. Usually it is performed in the morning (on an empty stomach) in a roentgenoperative (with special equipment) professionally trained doctors. The technique is based on the introduction of catheters into the cardiac sections through the aorta by puncturing the right femoral artery. After the study, patients need bed rest for the first 24 hours.
Catheterization allows you to study the structure and function of all parts of the cardiovascular system. With its help, you can determine the exact location and size of individual cavities of the heart and large vessels, identify defects in the septa of the heart, and also detect abnormal vasodilation. Through the catheter, you can record blood pressure, electro and phonocardiogram, receive blood samples from the heart and trunk vessels.
Apply it and for medicinal purposes for the introduction of medicines. In addition, using special catheters, perform heart surgery (occlusion of the open arterial duct, elimination of valvular stenosis). It is possible that with the improvement of bloodless methods of investigation (such as ultrasound, etc.), cardiac catheterization for diagnostic purposes will be used less often, and with a medical purpose - more often.