The nurse will explain to the client is
the catheterization will visualize the disease process in the coronary arteries.
A cardiac catheterization delivers information on how well a heart
works, recognizes problems and allows for procedures to open blocked
arteries.
For example, during cardiac catheterization your doctor may:
<span>
Gather
up samples of blood to measure the oxygen content in the four chambers of
your heart.
<span>Take X-rays using
contrast dye injected over the catheter to look for narrowed or blocked
coronary arteries. This is known as coronary arteriography or coronary
angiography.
</span>
Assess
the ability of the pumping chambers to contract.
Look
for deficiencies in the valves or chambers of your heart.
Execute
a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) such as coronary
angioplasty with stenting to open up narrowed or blocked segments of
a coronary artery.
Check
the compression in the four chambers of your heart.
Remove
a small piece of heart tissue to examine under a microscope (biopsy).</span>
