Introduction to cardiac catheterization part 1: Diagnostic coronary angiography

Cardiac catheterization and diagnostic coronary angiography remains the gold standard for the investigation of many forms of coronary and structural heart disease, and as such is an extremely important component of the cardiac clinician’s diagnostic armamentarium. It is, however, an invasive procedure with attendant risks, and therefore it is important for all members of the catheter laboratory team to understand the processes involved and work well together to ensure that the patient has as safe and painless a journey as possible. In this article we review the indications for cardiac catheterization, the contra-indications and the important potential complications of this procedure, as well as discussing the basics of coronary anatomy demonstrated by coronary angiography.

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