Heart and Vascular Center

Diagnostic Laboratories and Imaging

Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure performed to diagnose and treat heart and vascular disease. The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is ready 24 hours a day to perform catheter-based interventions, including diagnosis and treatment for patients with acute coronary disease and heart attack.

The catheterization lab has the most advanced digital imaging technology available for performing all types of cardiac catheterization procedures.

Catheterization involves inserting a thin plastic tube (catheter) into an artery or vein. This is done through a small incision in the arm or leg. Using imaging (ultrasound or X-rays) for guidance, the catheter is moved through the blood vessel and into the coronary arteries or heart. One the catheter is in place, other instruments may be inserted through it to treat the problem.

Catheterization is performed to diagnose coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease (PAD) and structural heart disease — without major surgery. Cardiac catheterization can help physicians evaluate the presence of heart and vascular disease, heart muscle function and the need for treatment.

Catheterization is also done to treat these conditions. Using catheterization, a physician can open a blocked vessel, resolve an arrhythmia (an irregular heart beat) or fix a congenital heart defect.

Interventional cardiologists and vascular and interventional radiologists specialize in performing a wide range of minimally invasive catheterization procedures to diagnose and treat heart and vascular disease. At Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, all interventional cardiologists, and vascular and interventional radiologists are board-certified and fellowship-trained. They perform a high volume of catheterization procedures and are among the region’s most experienced in diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures.

They collaborate with other specialists (e.g., cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiologists, pulmonologists and neurologists) to offer patients the optimal treatment for their condition. No other healthcare facility in the area offers this combined expertise approach to care.

Diagnostic Catheterization

Diagnostic catheterization is performed to obtain information about the heart and its function. During a diagnostic catheterization, blood samples are taken from inside the heart, and pressure in the heart, lungs, and surrounding vessels are checked. Angiography is done to provide detailed images of the heart and vessels. Angiography is a type of X-ray that images blood vessels to determine if they are diseased, narrowed, enlarged or blocked. After passing a catheter through an artery leading to area of interest, a contrast material is injected to highlight the vessels when X-rays are taken. Catheter angiography is used in patients who may undergo surgery, angioplasty or stent placement.

Endovascular Therapy (Catheterization Procedures)

To open blocked coronary arteries, a variety of catheterization procedures may be performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

In addition to diagnosing and treating heart and vascular disease, other procedures are performed in the Catheterization Lab for complex cases, such as:

Evaluating a patient for heart transplantation and pulmonary hypertension
Providing hemodynamic support, which involves the placement of devices to assist the heart with pumping (e.g., intra-aortic balloon pumps, right and left ventricular assist devices and implantable left ventricular assist systems)

Last Review Date: June 18, 2008

Online Editor(s): Richard Petre