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Cardiance Group · Switzerland

Cardiac catheterisation
the key answers

Your doctor has suggested cardiac catheterisation and you are unsure? This page explains what the term actually means, when the procedure is really necessary, what the alternatives are — and which three questions you should ask before deciding.

  • CSS Excellence 100 %
  • Switzerland’s first outpatient heart clinic
  • FMH-certified cardiology
  • Own cath lab at both sites
  • Second opinions welcome
  • First appointments available within 48 hours
Go to the decision guide
First appointments available within 48 hours

Phone Liestal: +41 61 906 92 92 · Pfäffikon SZ: +41 52 303 47 47

· Medically reviewed by: FMH specialists in cardiology, Cardiance Group · Sources: ESC Guidelines 2024, SGK, FOPH KVG Art. 25

2 mm

Catheter diameter

2

Meanings: device and procedure

< 1 / 1'000

serious complications

95 %

procedures as outpatient

Quick answer

Cardiac catheter refers to two things: the device — a flexible tube around 2 millimetres in diameter — and the procedure in which this device is guided through an artery up to the heart. Diagnostic catheterisation only images the coronary arteries; interventional catheterisation also treats narrowings with a balloon and stent. In purely diagnostic procedures, serious complications occur in fewer than 1 in 1’000 cases.

Source: Swiss Society of Cardiology (SGK), European Society of Cardiology (ESC). As of Q2 2026.

01 — Definition

What is a cardiac catheter — a device or a procedure?

Both. And this is exactly where most of the confusion arises.

A cardiac catheter is first of all a device: a flexible, hollow plastic tube with an outer diameter of about two millimetres — thinner than a ballpoint pen line. Its tip is pre-shaped differently depending on the target vessel, so that it sits securely in the opening of the left or right coronary artery.

In everyday speech, however, “having a cardiac catheter” means the procedure: the examination in which this device is guided through an artery up to the heart. When your doctor talks about a cardiac catheter, they almost always mean the procedure.

You will often hear two other terms in this context. Cardiac catheterisation is the full name for the same procedure. Coronary angiography is the part of it in which the coronary arteries are imaged with contrast dye — in other words, the part that usually matters most.

Why can’t you feel the catheter?

Blood vessels have no pain receptors on their inner wall. All you feel is the brief prick of the local anaesthetic at the puncture site. The route from the wrist to the heart — around 60 centimetres — goes unnoticed.

FMH
Medically reviewed

FMH specialists in cardiology · Cardiance Group · Last reviewed 2026-07

Top: a size comparison — a cardiac catheter is a flexible plastic tube about two millimetres in diameter, thinner than a ballpoint pen line. Below: a schematic of the route from the wrist through the arm artery and the aorta to the coronary arteries. THE DEVICE Cardiac catheter Flexible plastic tube, approx. 2 mm outside, hollow inside — tip pre-shaped for each vessel. THE ROUTE TO THE HEART 1 Puncture at the wrist Local anaesthetic, standard route (radial) 2 Via the aorta Painless — vessels have no pain receptors on the inside 3 Coronary arteries Contrast dye makes them visible on the X-ray image Schematic illustration, not to scale.

Schematic illustration of the device and the access route. Not to scale.

02 — Two types

Diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterisation?

The most important difference to understand before your consent consultation: one only looks, the other treats.

Diagnostic — looking only

  • Imaging of the coronary arteries with contrast dye
  • Pressure measurements in the heart, assessment of the valves
  • Nothing is changed in the heart
  • Takes 30–90 minutes
  • No long-term blood-thinning therapy afterwards
  • The result is a basis for a decision, not a treatment

Interventional — treating

  • Widening a narrowing with a balloon
  • Inserting a stent that keeps the vessel open
  • Extends the procedure by about 30 minutes
  • Followed by dual antiplatelet therapy for 6–12 months
  • Requires your prior consent
  • Saves you a second procedure

What to clarify beforehand: Before any diagnostic catheterisation, you will be asked whether a stent may be placed straight away if a finding clearly needs treatment. If you say yes, there is no need for a second appointment. If you say no, the finding will be discussed with you first. Both are legitimate — you are entitled to take time to think it over.

03 — Indication

When is cardiac catheterisation really necessary?

The European Society of Cardiology guidelines do not ask whether an examination is possible, but whether its result will change the treatment. The following overview is based on the same principle.

Clearly useful

Acute coronary syndrome

Heart attack or unstable angina. Here time is critical — the procedure is performed as an emergency and treatment is given at the same time.

Clearly useful

Proven reduced blood flow

Positive evidence of ischaemia on stress echo, stress MRI or scintigraphy — the narrowing responsible needs to be located.

Clearly useful

Abnormal cardiac CT

CT coronary angiography shows a significant narrowing or cannot be reliably assessed because of heavy calcification.

Usually useful

Typical angina

Exertional chest tightness with a high risk profile — age, diabetes, smoking, family history.

Usually useful

Before valve procedures

Before TAVI or heart surgery, assessing the coronary arteries is part of the standard work-up.

Weigh it up

Unclear symptoms, low risk

If coronary artery disease is unlikely, a non-invasive test is usually the better first step.

Not useful

Screening without symptoms

Without symptoms and without abnormal previous findings, an invasive procedure is not indicated. Risk-free methods are available for screening.

04 — Alternatives

What are the alternatives?

Cardiac catheterisation comes at the end of a chain of tests, not at the beginning. These tests may be considered first — and each answers a different question.

Test Answers the question Limitations
Exercise ECG
Do signs of reduced blood flow appear during physical exertion?
Often normal despite an existing narrowing; less conclusive in women
Stress echocardiography
Does the heart wall move less well under stress?
Operator-dependent; requires good ultrasound image quality
CT coronary angiography
Are the coronary arteries clear? Rules out coronary artery disease very reliably
Limited assessment with heavy calcification or arrhythmias
Cardiac MRI
What is the condition of the heart muscle — scarring, inflammation, pumping function?
Long examination time; not possible with all implants
Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
Which region of the heart receives less blood flow?
Radiation exposure; does not show the narrowing directly
Cardiac catheterisation
Exactly where is the narrowing, how severe is it — and can it be treated immediately?
Invasive, with a puncture site; the only method that can also treat

No test is better in principle. What matters is how likely a significant narrowing is before the examination. If the probability is low, a non-invasive test often answers the question completely — if it is high, it only delays the path to treatment. For a detailed comparison of CT and catheter, see koronarangiographie.ch.

05 — Decision guide

Cardiac catheterisation — yes or no?

In an emergency, this question does not arise: time is what counts. With a planned procedure, on the other hand, you can take your time to decide. These three questions are the most useful to ask in your consultation.

Question 1

“How likely is a significant narrowing in my case?”

  • Doctors estimate this probability before every examination
  • It is based on your symptoms, age, sex and risk factors
  • If it is low, there is a strong case for a non-invasive test first

Question 2

“What changes if the result is normal?”

  • If nothing changes in your treatment, the benefit is small
  • If a normal result brings clarity and ends the search, it is valuable
  • This question separates necessary examinations from optional ones

Question 3

“Is there a non-invasive test that would answer the same question?”

  • Often yes — for example CT coronary angiography
  • Sometimes no, for example when treatment is to be given directly
  • The answer should be explained, not just asserted

Reasons in favour of the examination

  • Your symptoms limit your daily life and are getting worse
  • A previous finding suggests reduced blood flow
  • You have several risk factors at the same time
  • A treatment decision is pending and depends on the result
  • The uncertainty troubles you more than the procedure

Reasons to wait

  • You have no symptoms and no abnormal previous findings
  • Non-invasive tests have not yet been fully used
  • Your treatment would not change, whatever the result
  • You have severely impaired kidney function — this requires special preparation
  • You do not feel adequately informed

None of this applies to acute symptoms. With chest pain, shortness of breath or a suspected heart attack, call 144 immediately. Then there is no weighing up — treatment comes first.

06 — Risks

Risks in figures

Cardiac catheterisation is one of the safest invasive procedures in modern medicine. In purely diagnostic examinations, serious complications occur in fewer than 1 in 1’000 cases. (Source: Swiss Society of Cardiology SGK, registry data 2025)

Common (up to 5 %)

  • Bruising at the puncture site — usually harmless, clears within 1–2 weeks
  • Brief feeling of warmth when the contrast dye is injected — not a complication
  • Temporary heart rhythm disturbances during the procedure
  • Circulatory reactions such as dizziness or nausea

Rare to very rare (< 1 / 1'000) (Source: ESC, SGK)

  • Major bleeding at the puncture site
  • Severe contrast dye reaction or allergy
  • Temporary impairment of kidney function caused by contrast dye
  • Stroke — risk < 0.1 % (Source: ESC Guidelines on Coronary Artery Disease 2024)
  • Heart attack during the procedure — < 0.05 % (Source: SGK)
  • Death — extremely rare, < 0.05 % (SGK registry data 2025)

These figures apply to planned, diagnostic procedures. In emergency procedures and complex treatments the risk is higher — but so, correspondingly, is the benefit. You will find the full breakdown at koronarangiographie.ch.

07 — Costs

How much does cardiac catheterisation cost in Switzerland?

When medically indicated, the procedure is a mandatory benefit of compulsory health insurance (OKP) under the Health Insurance Act (KVG). You pay only your deductible and co-payment.

Service Insurance class Typical cost (CHF)
Diagnostic catheterisation without stent (outpatient)
Basic (KVG)
2’000 – 4’000
Catheterisation with stent (PCI, outpatient)
Basic (KVG)
4’000 – 9’000

Important: You pay only your deductible (up to CHF 2’500) and co-payment (10 %, max. CHF 700/year for adults). The TARDOC codes for diagnostic cardiac catheterisation are C05.11A + C05.11B. For self-paying patients, we provide a cost estimate in advance.

08 — Access

Cardiac catheterisation without a referral — is that possible?

Through basic health insurance

  • Depending on your insurance model, a referral is usual but not always mandatory
  • With GP and HMO models, the route is usually via your GP practice
  • A medical reason is required in every case
  • On request, our patient administration team will clarify cost coverage in advance

Self-paying or privately insured

  • Direct registration possible, without a referral
  • Cost estimate in advance on request
  • Please bring previous reports — they considerably shorten the assessment
  • Second opinions explicitly welcome

There is one limit: We do not perform an invasive procedure simply on request, without symptoms and without abnormal previous findings. If you would like your heart checked as a precaution, we will first suggest a non-invasive examination — that is the medically correct approach.

09 — Where and how quickly

Cardiac catheterisation at 2 Cardiance sites

Both clinics have their own cardiac catheterisation laboratory. We perform more than 95 per cent of diagnostic procedures on an outpatient basis — you go home the same day. To see what the procedure room looks like, visit herzkatheterlabor.ch.

Ergolz Klinik Liestal — Cardiance Group, Hammerstrasse 35

Ergolz Klinik Liestal

Northwestern Switzerland · Basel region · Basel-Landschaft

Address

Hammerstrasse 35, 4410 Liestal

Phone

+41 61 906 92 92

Email

ergolz-klinik@cardiance.com

Getting here

8 min from Liestal station · Parking available

Consultation hours

Mon–Fri 08:00–18:00

Catchment area

Liestal · Sissach · Pratteln · Basel-Stadt · Upper Baselbiet

Appointment Liestal
Visit clinic website
Cardiance Clinic Pfäffikon SZ — Zentrum Staldenbach

Cardiance Clinic Pfäffikon SZ

Central Switzerland · Lake Zurich · Canton of Schwyz (NOT Pfäffikon ZH)

Address

Zentrum Staldenbach 5/7, 8808 Pfäffikon SZ

Phone

+41 52 303 47 47

Email

info@cardiance.com

Getting here

5 min from Pfäffikon SZ station · Underground car park

Consultation hours

Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00

Catchment area

Höfe · Ausserschwyz · Lake Zurich · March · Glarus · Linth region

Appointment Pfäffikon SZ
Visit clinic website
10 — Cardiance at a glance

Switzerland’s first outpatient heart clinic

95 %

Same-day discharge — patients go home the same day

100 %

In the CSS health insurance quality report, Cardiance Clinic scored 100 % and was awarded the quality level ‘EXCELLENCE’ (Pfäffikon site)

2500 +

Procedures per year — volume standard for safety

48 h

First appointments available within 48 h

In the CSS health insurance quality report, Cardiance Clinic scored 100% and was awarded the quality level ‘EXCELLENCE’. This rating stands for outstanding medical quality and patient satisfaction.

11 — Our team

FMH cardiologists with extensive cath lab experience

Personal care from the initial assessment to follow-up — the same contact people throughout, no changing shifts.

Prof. Dr. med. Ahmed A. Khattab — Medical Director, Cardiance Group
Medical Director

Prof. Dr. med. Ahmed A. Khattab

FMH Cardiology · Invasive Cardiology · Interventional Cardiology

Prof. Dr. med. et phil. nat. Rolf Vogel — Senior Consultant Cardiology (Ergolz Klinik), Cardiance Group
Head of Cardiology (Liestal)

Prof. Dr. med. et phil. nat. Rolf Vogel

FMH Cardiology · Interventional Cardiology · dipl. Ing. ETH

Prof. Dr. med. Dai-Do Do — Angiology (Pfäffikon), Cardiance Group
Angiology (Pfäffikon)

Prof. Dr. med. Dai-Do Do

FMH Angiology · Interventional Angiology · Duplex ultrasound

Prof. Dr. med. Karl-Heinz Kuck — Electrophysiology, Cardiance Group
Electrophysiology

Prof. Dr. med. Karl-Heinz Kuck

FMH Cardiology · Electrophysiology · Cardiac arrhythmias

Full medical team at cardiance.com/arzte

12 — FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers curated by our FMH cardiologists. Can’t find your question? Just give us a call.

The term means two things. First, the device: a flexible plastic tube about two millimetres in diameter that is guided through an artery up to the heart. Second, the procedure in which this device is used — when people say “I’m having a cardiac catheter”, they mean the examination. Both meanings are in common use.

Diagnostic catheterisation only looks: it images the coronary arteries and measures pressures without changing anything. Interventional catheterisation also treats — it widens a narrowing with a balloon and supports it with a stent. Both can take place in the same session if you have agreed to this beforehand.

When a significant narrowing of the coronary arteries is likely and the answer will change a treatment decision. Typical examples are exertional chest pain with a high risk profile, positive evidence of ischaemia or an abnormal cardiac CT. If the probability is low, a non-invasive test is usually the better first step.

Depending on the question: CT coronary angiography, which can reliably rule out coronary artery disease; stress echo and exercise ECG, which reveal reduced blood flow under exertion; and cardiac MRI for the heart muscle and scar tissue. None of these tests can treat, however — only cardiac catheterisation can place a stent in the same appointment.

The key question is not whether the examination is dangerous, but whether its result will change your treatment. Ask your doctor directly: How likely do you think a significant narrowing is? What changes in my treatment if the result is normal? And is there a non-invasive test that answers the same question? If the procedure is planned rather than urgent, you can take your time to decide.

In a purely diagnostic examination, serious complications occur in fewer than 1 in 1’000 cases (source: Swiss Society of Cardiology, SGK). Harmless bruising at the puncture site is common. Serious events such as stroke or heart attack are extremely rare. The risk is higher in emergency procedures and complex treatments.

A purely diagnostic outpatient examination typically costs between CHF 2’000 and CHF 4’000. If a stent is implanted, costs are between CHF 4’000 and CHF 9’000. When medically indicated, the procedure is a mandatory benefit of compulsory basic health insurance — you pay only your deductible and co-payment.

If billed through basic health insurance, a referral is usual depending on your insurance model, but not always mandatory. Self-paying and privately insured patients can register directly. In every case there must be a medical reason — we do not perform an examination simply on request without an indication.

Yes, and for planned procedures it is explicitly advisable. Bring whatever you have: reports, images from previous examinations, stress test, echo report and your medication list. The more complete the documents, the more reliable the second assessment. This does not apply to acute symptoms — then time is what counts.

Usually not. At Cardiance Group, more than 95 per cent of diagnostic procedures are performed on an outpatient basis: you arrive in the morning and go home the same day with someone to accompany you. An inpatient stay is required for emergencies, unstable symptoms or complex procedures.

First appointments available within 48 hours

Unsure? Talk to us first

A preliminary consultation takes twenty minutes of your time and often clarifies more than any research. Our patient administration team will get back to you within one working day. Bring any existing reports — a stress test, echo or CT helps us assess whether cardiac catheterisation is the right step for you at all. Second opinions are explicitly welcome.

Liestal: +41 61 906 92 92
Pfäffikon SZ: +41 52 303 47 47
Send an email

Mon–Fri · 08:00–18:00 (Pfäffikon SZ until 17:00)

Emergencies outside opening hours: 144 (ambulance)

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