sydänkatetroinneissa

Sydänkatetrointi, known in English as cardiac catheterization, is a medical procedure used to diagnose and treat certain heart conditions. It involves inserting a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel, typically in the groin or arm, and guiding it to the heart.

During the procedure, doctors can measure pressure and oxygen levels in the heart chambers, assess the function of the heart valves, and visualize the coronary arteries. This allows for the diagnosis of conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart valve problems, congenital heart defects, and heart muscle diseases.

Sydänkatetrointi can also be therapeutic. For instance, a procedure called angioplasty, often performed during a cardiac catheterization, uses a small balloon to widen narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Stents, small mesh tubes, may also be placed in the arteries to keep them open. Other treatments that can be done via catheterization include valve repair or replacement and the closure of certain congenital heart defects.

The procedure is generally performed under local anesthesia and sedation, meaning the patient is awake but relaxed. It is considered a minimally invasive procedure with a relatively low risk of complications, though as with any medical intervention, risks such as bleeding, infection, or damage to the blood vessel or heart do exist. Recovery time is typically short, with most patients able to return to normal activities within a few days.