Cardiac catheterization: A review for pharmacists

Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure that is performed in hospitals throughout the United States and worldwide. The procedure can be used for diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacists should be aware of the benefits and risks involved in cardiac catheterization and the associated drug therapy in order to help determine appropriate treatment for patients. Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure that is performed in hospitals throughout the United States and worldwide. Cardiac catheterization can be used for diagnosis and assessment of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, it can be used therapeutically in order to open an occluded blood vessel and has become an alternative to surgery in some patients. Pharmacotherapy plays a large role before, during, and after cardiac catheterization. The goal of this article is to provide practicing pharmacists an overview of the most common reasons for cardiac catheterization, describe the procedure and its associated risks, and discuss the drugs that need be to administered as part of the procedure