Exploring the Various Types of Cardiac Catheterizations

Cardiovascular disease is a major issue in the United States, with nearly half of all adults affected. Heart disease is the leading cause of death nationwide.

To fight these alarming statistics, our team, led by fellowship-trained cardiologist Dr. James Kim, offers a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options for cardiovascular disease. One key procedure is cardiac catheterization, which is essential for restoring heart health.

Let’s explore the different types of this procedure and how they can benefit your cardiovascular well-being.

Cardiac Catheterization: A Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Tool

Cardiovascular disease can be challenging to detect because many conditions show no symptoms in the early stages. Often, people only realize there’s a problem after a serious event like a heart attack or stroke.

Cardiac catheterization allows us to closely examine your heart and blood vessels to identify any issues. The procedure involves making a small incision in your groin, arm, or neck and threading a catheter through the blood vessel to your aorta and heart.

Once the catheter is in place, we can visualize your cardiovascular structures more clearly and assess their function using a dye in a process called coronary angiography.

This procedure lets us:

• Visualize your heart, valves, and surrounding blood vessels
• Measure pressures in your heart chambers and pumping strength
• Take blood samples to measure oxygen levels
• Remove tissue samples for biopsy

The information gathered from cardiac catheterization is invaluable in determining the next steps for your heart health.

Cardiac Catheterization for Treatment

While cardiac catheterization is a valuable diagnostic method, it’s also used for various specialized treatments, including:

• Pacemaker Insertion: Regulating your heart’s rhythm
• Stent Placement: Keeping an artery open
• WATCHMAN™ Implant: Treating atrial fibrillation
• Angioplasty: Using a balloon to open blocked blood vessels
• MitraClip™: Helping the mitral valve close completely
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Replacing a diseased valve with a healthy one

Cardiac catheterization allows us to perform these procedures without the need for risky, open surgeries. By using existing pathways to reach your heart, this minimally invasive approach results in quicker recovery times and reduces the risks of blood loss, infection, and tissue damage.

To learn more about cardiac catheterization and how it might improve your cardiovascular health, contact one of our offices in Chula Vista or National City, California, to schedule an appointment.