Key Points

• Cardiac catheterization is a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions. A long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is put into a blood vessel in your arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck and threaded to your heart to do tests or treatments on the heart.
• Cardiac catheterization is most often used to evaluate chest pain. It may also be done during a heart attack to identify narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. You also may need this procedure if other tests suggest you have coronary artery disease.
• Before having cardiac catheterization, discuss with your doctor how to prepare for the test and any special instructions you need to follow.
• It may not be safe to drive right after the procedure. If your doctor says you can go home the same day, you should arrange for a ride home from the hospital.
• During cardiac catheterization, you’re kept on your back and awake. That way you can follow your doctor’s instructions during the procedure. You’re given medicine to help you relax.
• After the procedure, you will be moved to a special care area, where you will rest for several hours or overnight. During this time, your movement will be limited to avoid bleeding from the site where the catheter was inserted.
• A small bruise may develop at the site where the catheter was inserted. That area may feel sore or tender for about a week. You need to let your doctor know if you have a lot of bleeding from that area or signs of infection. You may have to avoid doing certain activities, such as heavy lifting, for a short time after the procedure.
• Cardiac catheterization is a common medical procedure that rarely causes serious complications. The risk of complications is higher in people with diabetes and kidney disease, and in older people and women.