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Heart catheterization for congenital heart defects - Why It Is Done
About this test
The main purpose of a heart catheterization is to view the blood vessels in the heart.
Some procedures to correct congenital heart defects can be done during a heart catheterization. These include:
- Septostomy. For a septostomy, an opening is made in the wall of the heart between the upper chambers to allow blood to mix between the heart chambers. This procedure is generally used to treat transposition of the great vessels, tricuspid atresia, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome. It does not correct the congenital heart defect but allows oxygen-rich blood to get out to the body until surgery can be done to correct the defect.
- Closing a defect. During a heart catheterization, doctors may use a device called a septal occluder or coil to close an atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, or patent ductus arteriosus.
- Balloon valvuloplasty. For a balloon valvuloplasty, a small balloon is inflated in a heart valve to widen the valve. This procedure can be used to treat pulmonary valve stenosis and aortic valve stenosis.
- Balloon angioplasty. A balloon is inflated in an artery to widen the artery. This procedure can be used to treat narrowed blood vessels in the lungs or coarctation of the aorta.
- Stents. Small wire-mesh coils (stents) can be placed in arteries to hold them open. Stents for treatment of congenital heart defects are often placed in arteries outside the heart, such as the pulmonary arteries or the aorta.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: October 12, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics Larry A. Latson, MD - Pediatric Cardiology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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