What is the primary purpose of cardiac catheterization?

• A. To monitor blood pressure outside the heart
• B. To diagnose the severity of arterial blockages
• C. To treat heart attack by placing stents directly
• D. To measure oxygen saturation in blood only

Answer: (B)

Cardiac catheterization is done to directly visualize the coronary arteries and measure pressures inside the heart, which lets clinicians determine how severely the arteries are blocked. That assessment of blockage severity guides treatment decisions, such as whether revascularization is needed and what form it should take. While the procedure can also be used to treat blockages with stents, or to measure oxygen levels or other pressures as part of a broader evaluation, the central purpose is diagnosing the extent of arterial blockages. Options that focus on peripheral blood pressure monitoring or on measuring oxygen saturation “only” do not capture this primary diagnostic goal.