Right Heart Catheterization

A right heart catheterization is a procedure performed usually via a vein in the groin to measure the pressures in the heart and lungs using a catheter known as a Swan-Ganz catheter. If the pressures in the arteries supplying the lungs (pulmonary arteries) are elevated this may be due to a condition known as pulmonary hypertension.  In addition, blood tests can be taken throughout the investigation to measure the level of oxygen in the blood at various locations in the heart and blood vessels. This information can be used to diagnose a variety of heart conditions such as congenital heart abnormalities.