<unk> " is a general term for a group of procedures. Access to the heart is obtained through a peripheral artery or vein. Commonly, this includes the radial artery, internal jugular vein, and femoral artery/vein. Each blood vessel has its advantages and disadvantages. Once access is obtained, plastic<unk> eters (tiny hollow tubes) and flexible wires are used to navigate to and around the heart.<unk> eters come in numerous shapes, lengths, diameters, number of lumens, and other special features such as electrodes and balloons. Once in place, they are used to measure or intervene. Imaging is an important aspect to<unk> eterization and commonly includes fluoroscopy but can also include forms of echocardiography (TTE, TEE, ICE) and ultrasound (IVUS). Obtaining access uses the Seldinger technique by puncturing the vessel with a needle, placing a wire through the needle into the lumen of the vessel, and then exchanging the needle for a larger plastic sheath. Finding the vessel with a needle can be challenging and both ultrasound and fluoroscopy can be used to aid in finding and confirming access. Sheaths typically have a side port that can be used to withdraw blood or injection fluids/medications, and they also have an end hole that permits introducing the<unk> eters, wires, etc. coaxially into the blood vessel. Once access is obtained, what is introduced into the vessel depends on the procedure being performed. Some<unk> eters are formed to a particular shape and can really only be manipulated by inserting/withdrawing the<unk> eter in the sheath and rotating the<unk> eter. Others may include internal structures that permit internal manipulation (e.g., intracardiac echocardiography). Finally, when the procedure is completed, the<unk> eters are removed and the sheath is removed. With time, the hole made in the blood vessel will heal. Vascular closure devices can be used to speed along hemostasis. Equipment Much equipment is required for a facility to perform the numerous possible procedures for<unk> . General: *<unk> eters * Film or Digital Camera * Electrocardiography monitors * External defibrillator * Fluoroscopy * Pressure transducers * Sheaths Percutaneous coronary intervention: * Coronary stents: bare-metal stent (BMS) and drug-eluting stent (DES) * Angioplasty balloons * Atherectomy lasers and rotational devices * Left atrial appendage occlusion devices Electrophysiology: * Ablation<unk> eters: radiofrequency (RF) and cryo * Pacemakers * Defibrillators
Cardiac catheterization
Coronary catheterization
Ballistocardiography
Magnetocardiography
Impedance cardiography
Cardiac ventriculography
Electrical cardiometry
Cardiac imaging