Cardiac Catheterization

In our advanced Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Foothills Hospital, BCH cardiologists diagnose and treat a wide range of heart conditions. During catheterization, a thin tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery or vein and then threaded through your blood vessels to your heart.

Diagnostic Catheterization

During a cardiac catheterization, the physician is able to gather information about your heart condition by:

observing the condition of your arteries, veins and blood vessels
measuring blood pressure and flow
taking blood samples
doing a biopsy of heart tissue

Catheterization Treatments

Balloon angioplasty - During this procedure, a specially designed catheter with a small balloon tip is guided to the narrowed section of the artery. The balloon is then inflated to compress plaque against the artery wall and stretch the artery open, increasing blood flow to the heart.

Stent procedure - Angioplasty is often combined with the placement of a small wire mesh tube called a stent that props the artery open and decreases its chance of narrowing again.