Left Heart Catheterization
Alternate Names : Catheterization - Left Heart
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How is the Test Performed?
You will be given a mild sedative prior to the test. An intravenous (IV) catheter is started in your arm to allow medication to be administered during the procedure. A radiologist or cardiologist inserts the catheter through a small incision in the femoral or brachial artery after cleansing the site and numbing the site with a local anesthetic.
The catheter is then carefully threaded into your heart through the aorta and aortic valve and then into the left ventricle using X-ray images called fluoroscopy to guide the insertion. When the catheter is in place, dye is injected to allow the health care provider to visualize the structures and vessels within the heart.
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