Procedure

Cardiac catheterization is the most accurate method for evaluating and defining ischemic heart disease (IHD), also known as coronary artery disease (CAD). It is used to identify the location and severity of CAD.

During cardiac catheterization, a small catheter (a thin hollow tube with a diameter of 2-3 mm) is inserted through the skin into an artery in the groin or the arm. Guided with the assistance of a fluoroscope (a special x-ray viewing instrument), the catheter is then advanced to the opening of the coronary arteries, the vessels supplying blood to the heart. When the catheter is used to inject radiographic contrast (a solution containing iodine, which is easily visualized with x-ray images) into each coronary artery, the cardiac catheterization is termed coronary angiography . The images that are produced are called the angiogram , which shows the extent and severity of blockages in coronary arteries.

Procedure / Intervention Codes

Cardiac catheterization / diagnostic angiogram have been defined using ICD-9-CM procedure codes 37.21 to 37.23, or 88.52 to 88.57, and CCI codes 2.HZ.28 or 3.IP.10, in any procedure field of a hospital discharge abstract (inpatient or outpatient).

In MCHP Research

In some studies, this type of analysis is limited to the Manitoba population aged 40 or older. In addition, a person could be catheterized more than once during the study time frame, and each would be counted as a separate event. Cardiac catheterizations were only performed at the two tertiary hospitals (Health Sciences Centre and St Boniface General Hospital), so only hospital separations from those two hospitals were included in the analysis in order to eliminate the potential for double-counting of procedures.

For more information, see:


• section 8.1 Cardiac Catheterization (Diagnostic Angiogram) in Manitoba RHA Indicators Atlas 2009 by Fransoo et al. (2009)
  
• section 11.1 Cardiac Catherterization Rates in Profile of Metis Health Status and Healthcare Utilization in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study by Martens et al. (2010)
  
• Chapter 5: Cardiac Catheterization in Adult Obesity in Manitoba: Prevalence, Associations, and Outcomes by Fransoo et al. (2011).
  
• section 8.1 Cardiac Catheterization (Diagnostic Angiogram) in The 2013 RHA Indicators Atlas by Fransoo, R et al. (2013)
  
• section 8.1 Cardiac Catheterization (Diagnostic Angiogram) Rates in The 2019 RHA Indicators Atlas by Fransoo, R et al. (2019)