Hemodynamics and Interventional Cardiology

It is the examination that shows the coronary arteries, which carry blood to the heart. A catheter, inserted through an artery in the wrist or groin, reaches the coronary arteries and releases a contrast medium visible on X-ray: the images show the site and extent of any obstructions and make it possible to decide on treatment.

It treats the coronary obstructions identified by coronary angiography. A catheter with a balloon at its tip reaches the narrowed section and dilates it, restoring blood flow; in some cases the physician leaves a stent, a small metal tube that keeps the artery open.

With catheters inserted into the vessels, the pressures inside the heart and the great vessels are measured and the functioning of the heart chambers and valves is studied. The catheterization labs also serve as invasive cardiac diagnosis units.

With the same technique as coronary angiography, the arteries of other regions of the body are studied, to identify narrowings and changes in the vessels.