Interventional cardiac catheterization

Over the past decade, the focus of the pediatric catheterization laboratroy has changed dramatically from its primary diagnostic function to a conduit for therapeutics. Today, therapeutic catheterization techniques have replaced conventional surgery for many lesions. The percutaneous transcatheter procedures may be broadly grouped as dilations (septostomy, valvuloplasty, angioplasty, and endovascular stenting) or as closures (vascular embolization and device closure of defects). New methods, combined with continuous critical evaluation of established techniques continue to ensure improved and sustained results.