Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization

Diagnostic cardiac catheterization is a special test to collect enough information about a child's heart problem to establish a plan for care.

The Inova interventional pediatric cardiologist guides a catheter to the heart. Once inside the heart, information obtained includes:

• The level of oxygen in the chambers of the heart
• The pressure of the blood in the chambers and vessels near the heart
• Using dye to create movies of how the blood flows through the heart and major blood vessels

This test is conducted at the pediatric catheterization lab at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, a dedicated pediatric lab with specially trained pediatric staff and anesthesiologists. Your child will sleep through the test. Most children go home in about six hours after the test is completed.