left-heart catheterization

medicine

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Left-heart catheterization is a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases. It involves inserting a flexible tube, called a catheter, into an artery, typically in the upper arm or thigh. This catheter is then guided through the aorta and into the left ventricle of the heart.12

This technique allows doctors to evaluate conditions such as mitral and aortic valve defects, as well as diseases of the heart muscle. It is a crucial part of diagnosing and managing various heart conditions, enabling detailed study of heart abnormalities and guiding treatment decisions.21

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human cardiovascular system
Left-heart catheterization
Left-heart catheterization is accomplished by introducing a catheter into the brachial or femoral artery (in the upper arm and thigh, respectively) and advancing it through the aorta across the aortic valve and into the left ventricle. Mitral and aortic valvular defects and myocardial…
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Left-heart catheterization is accomplished by introducing a catheter into the brachial or femoral artery (in the upper arm and thigh, respectively) and advancing it through the aorta across the aortic valve and into the left ventricle. Mitral and aortic valvular defects and myocardial…
Read More