6. What can be assessed by a cardiac catheterization?

The size of the arteries, the location, and the percentage of blockage that can be reached by angiography. The thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow measurement is taken during a cardiac catheterization to classify the coronary blood flow. This TIMI flow grading system ranges from zero (0 = no flow through the artery with the contrast dye) to three (3 = filling of the coronary artery distal beds completely).
Left atrial and left ventricular pressures, direct cardiac output/stroke volume, or left ventricular ejection fraction.
Some hospitals may be only equipped to perform a diagnostic evaluation and then transfer the patient to a referral center for an intervention.