In the cardiology department, the doctors ensure that the least invasive procedures are performed to the patients while selecting cardiac tests. The most common diagnostic tests used in the cardiology department are pain-free and involve simple techniques EKG and echocardiogram. However, in certain cases cardiac catheterization may be required and the patients may be required to undergo sedation to reduce discomfort.

Cardiac cath is considered a minor procedure or minor surgery. Most of the times there is no big cut in the body and no sutures are placed. The cath is performed via small tube placed in the artery of arm or leg. A very light sedation is given to reduce the comfort. When the procedure is completed the tube is removed and pressured is applied to prevent bleeding at entry site.

The cardiac cath is performed using contrast and X-rays. It shows the blockage in heart arteries.

The introduction of the catheter in blood vessels is known as cardiac catheterization. It is done to measure pressures and/or to study the anatomy of a blood vessel of the heart by introducing contrast material through the catheter. The injection of contrast material is known as an angiogram which allows defining a specific coronary arteries. While cardiac intervention is an overall process of treating an obstruction within an artery. Balloon angioplasty and stent placement is a common cardiac intervention where the artery is expanded to clear out the blockage which causes a decrease in the blood flow to the heart muscle. A stent is introduced just after completion of the balloon angioplasty technique, the stent is a miniature tube made of mesh that helps to keep the artery open and restore the blood flow.

The common procedures include cardiac catheterization, stent placement, balloon angioplasty. Some interventional cardiologists may perform valve procedures like TAVR, mitral clip, valvuloplasty.