Does Everyone With Heart Failure Need A Heart Catheterization?
Question: Does everyone with heart failure need a heart catheterization?
Answer: No, not everyone with heart failure needs or warrants a heart catheterization. And the people in whom we would consider doing a heart catheterization on with heart failure -- those who have evidence of lack of oxygen to the heart muscles.
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So, if we suspect that there may be angina involved or there may be concerns related to worsening symptoms -- that is, increasing shortness of breath, for example, despite adequate medical therapy -- then that might be consideration for catheterization. The reason for that is to see whether or not there is obstructional blockage in one of the main heart arteries in which case we may be able to do something about by opening it up and thereby improving symptoms.
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