A member of the Society of Coronary Angiography and Interventions, Dr. Gregory Sampognaro, MD, is a former cardiac cath lab director at St. Francis Medical Center. Dr. Gregory Sampognaro, MD, is also a co-author of medical articles including “Use of a Novel Access Technology for Femoral Artery Catheterization: Results of the RECITAL Trial.”
A procedure used for diagnosing and treating certain cardiovascular diseases, cardiac catheterization is done in some established surgical procedures such as coronary stenting and coronary angioplasty. Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure, has quick recovery time, and a low risk of complications.
Cardiac catheterization is completed in a sterile environment. During cardiac catheterization for balloon angioplasty, a small incision is made to access an artery in the patient’s groin or wrist region through which a long tiny tube called a catheter is inserted. Two main types of catheters are used in the procedure: a flexible one is threaded from the point of insertion to the narrowed artery, and a smaller catheter, called a balloon catheter, is guided to the narrowed areas through the flexible catheter. The balloon catheter helps enlarge the narrowed artery. In many cases, a mesh coil known as a stent is placed at the narrowed portion to keep it open.
The procedure is usually performed while the patient is awake but sedated.
