US Medical Term · tests
Cardiac Catheterization
Cateterismo Cardíaco
Also: Cateterización Cardíaca (regional variant)
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Cardiac Catheterization |
| Spanish (Español) | Cateterismo Cardíaco |
| Chinese (中文) | 心導管檢查 |
| Korean (한국어) | 심장 도관 삽입술 (심도자술) |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thông tim (đặt ống thông tim) |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Cardiac Catheterization |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cateterismo Cardíaco |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การสวนหัวใจ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 心臓カテーテル検査 |
What it means
Cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure in which a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in your groin, wrist, or arm and guided to your heart. A contrast dye is injected through the catheter so doctors can use X-ray imaging to see your coronary arteries and heart chambers clearly. You will be awake but sedated. A local anesthetic numbs the insertion site. The procedure takes one to three hours. It is used to diagnose blockages, measure pressures inside the heart, and evaluate heart valve function. If a blockage is found, a stent or balloon angioplasty may be performed during the same session. Recovery involves lying still for several hours afterward.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
Will I be awake or asleep during the cardiac catheterization?
¿Estaré despierto o dormido durante el cateterismo cardíaco?
How long will I need to stay in the hospital after cardiac catheterization?
¿Cuánto tiempo tendré que quedarme en el hospital después del cateterismo cardíaco?
Can they fix a blockage during the catheterization without doing open-heart surgery?
¿Pueden corregir un bloqueo durante el cateterismo sin cirugía a corazón abierto?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026