“The cardiac catheterization is presently the most adequate and vital procedure to treat artery obstruction, in people that suffer an acute myocardial infarction ” – explained Pedro de Araújo Gonçalves , the coordinator of the Interventional Cardiology Centre at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, in an interview to RTP1, last June 23. For these patients, “the sooner the cardiac catheterization is done, the better the recovery”, he highlighted. Catheterization may also be indicated as a form of diagnosis, when a person has symptoms of chest pain or has taken cardiovascular exams that suggest the existence of artery obstruction. Currently, as a result of technological evolution and training of professionals, it has also become possible to treat various heart valve diseases (such as the aortic valve and mitral valve) through cardiac catheterization. The interventional cardiologist, that spoke in representation of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology, reminded the symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction, that people should be attentive to : pain, heaviness or pressure on the chest, tiredness and shortness of breath. It is very important to detect and treat these situations early in order to prevent complications and more serious sequelae resulting from the lack of irrigation of the heart muscle, as happens, for example, in acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). Via catheters (tubes about 2 millimeters in diameter) that are inserted through an artery – radial (in the arm) or femoral (in the groin), “the problem is located and we navigate along the arteries in order to locate and eliminate obstructions (with balloons, stents and even valves) and allow the cardiac muscle to receive blood once again, improving the quality (relief of the symptoms) and longevity of the patients (impact on the prognosis)”, further clarified Pedro de Araújo Gonçalves. The interview on RTP1 (at minute 9’38”, 6 th part)
