Cardiac catheterization is how cardiologists look directly at the arteries feeding your heart.
In a cardiac catheterization, a thin tube is threaded through an artery (usually in the wrist or groin) to the heart so the cardiologist can measure pressures and inject dye to see blockages on X-ray (coronary angiography). If a significant blockage is found, it can often be opened in the same session with balloon angioplasty and a stent. Several Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch interventional cardiologists perform these procedures, typically at hospitals such as Sarasota Memorial, HCA Sarasota Doctors, HCA Blake, Manatee Memorial and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
Dye study to find and measure coronary blockages.
Balloon opens the artery and a stent holds it open.
Catheter entered at the wrist; faster recovery, less bleeding.
A Florida medical license lets a physician practice, but board certification is the signal that a doctor completed accredited residency training and passed rigorous exams in their specialty. Look for certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member board that matches the care you need — and verify it yourself.
Procedure facts on this page draw on authoritative medical sources. Confirm specifics in a consultation.
American College of Cardiology — CardioSmart ↗American Heart Association ↗Choose a board-certified doctor — and verify it yourself:
ABMS — Certification Matters ↗ Look up any U.S. physician’s board certification across all 24 ABMS member specialty boards. Florida DOH — License Verification ↗ Confirm an active Florida license and review any disciplinary history. NPI Registry (CMS) ↗ Verify a provider’s national identifier and registered specialty taxonomy. Medicare Care Compare ↗ Compare clinicians, hospitals and facilities on quality measures.