Pulmonary artery catheterization

Pulmonary artery catheterization is a medical procedure used to gather detailed information about the heart and lungs. A thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a large vein, usually in the neck or groin, and guided into the pulmonary artery, which carries blood from the heart to the lungs. This allows doctors to measure pressures inside the heart, blood oxygen levels, and assess heart function directly. It helps diagnose and manage conditions like heart failure, lung problems, or shock, providing critical data to guide treatment without the need for more invasive surgery.