Interventional cardiology refers to procedures performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory to treat congenital heart disease.

During the past 20 years, cardiac catheterization changed from a diagnostic procedure to a predominantly therapeutic procedure. Development of various interventional procedures has allowed the pediatric cardiologist (interventionalist) to successfully treat certain kinds of congenital heart disease in the cath lab which previously required open heart surgery.

Thus, interventional cardiology has resulted in significantly shorter hospital stays with less discomfort for the patient and family. Now, some septal defects (holes), narrowed vessels/valves and patent ductus arteriosus can be repaired in the cath lab. In the future, even valve replacement may be available.