Cardiac Catheterization in Children: Diagnosis and Therapy

Abstract

Diagnostic cardiac catheterization is performed with much less frequency than the past due to advancement of other, less invasive, imaging modalities. Diagnostic cardiac catheterization may be required if other imaging modalities are not informative, hemodynamic evaluation to assess extent of shunts, cardiac output and pressure measurements are needed. Interventional cardiac catheterization is becoming more common as new tools allow a wider range of therapeutic intervention. Common interventional ­procedures include balloon dilation of stenotic valves, cardiac biopsy, closure of septal defects, and occlusion of abnormal communications and unwanted vessels. Complications of cardiac catheterization include cardiac wall and vascular injury, arrhythmias, hypoventilation and apnea, embolism, allergic reaction, and even death (0.3%).