What is acquired during a left heart catheterization?

• A. Pressure tracings of the LV and aorta
• B. Oxygen saturations of the right heart
• C. Plaque morphology by imaging
• D. ECG tracing only

Answer: (A)

During a left heart catheterization, the key data obtained are real-time pressure waveforms from the left ventricle and the aorta. These pressure tracings reveal systolic and diastolic pressures, help assess left ventricular function, and evaluate valve performance such as aortic stenosis or regurgitation. You may also perform coronary angiography by injecting contrast, but that produces imaging of the coronary arteries rather than the primary hemodynamic data. Oxygen saturations of the right heart are obtained with right-sided catheterization, not the left, and detailed plaque morphology is typically assessed with intravascular imaging like IVUS or OCT rather than standard pressure tracings. An ECG tracing is monitored during the procedure, but the main acquired data from the left heart approach are the LV and aortic pressure waveforms.