With the Cardiac Catheterization a.k.a. cardiac cath, the cardiologist (at least in my case) puts a catheter in the right side on the top of your groin and goes up in your heart and looks around (a “look see” as the UNC Rex cardiologist described it). If the cardiologist confirms a blockage(s) of more than 70% is present, a cardiac surgeon is called in to insert the stent(s).

If a stent(s) would not adequately rectify the blockage, a bypass would be required. Note that the room where the cardiac cath is performed is not a sterile operating room. Thus, if a bypass were warranted, that procedure would have to be scheduled for a later time.