What is a heart catheterization?

Heart catheterization is a procedure doctors use to make sure the heart is working well, according to the American Heart Association. A long, thin tube is inserted through a vein and then fed into the heart where a doctor can perform diagnostic tests.

A heart catheterization can also be used to treat conditions such as blocked arteries, according to the American Heart Association. By injecting a contrast dye with the catheter and looking at it through an X-ray, the doctor can find clogged arteries and then open them by injecting stints. Normally, the patient remains awake during the procedure, according to Mayo Clinic; however, the patient receives medicine to promote relaxation.