Evolution of cardiac catheterization: historical review and applications in contemporary cardiology

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the evolution of cardiac catheterization and its main applications in contemporary cardiology, with emphasis on diagnostic, therapeutic, and technological advances in interventional cardiology. Literature review: Cardiac catheterization originated from pioneering intracardiac catheterization experiments and progressively evolved with the development of angiographic techniques, selective coronary angiography, and coronary angioplasty. Over the decades, the incorporation of stents, intracoronary imaging, and physiological assessment of coronary stenoses has expanded its clinical applicability and refined its use in different care settings. More recently, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, intravascular lithotripsy, and drug-coated balloons have contributed to greater diagnostic precision, improved therapeutic planning, and broader interventional possibilities. This process has transformed cardiac catheterization from a predominantly diagnostic method into a progressively more integrated approach, with increasingly precise diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Final considerations: Cardiac catheterization has become a central tool in contemporary cardiovascular practice, with future perspectives supported by the incorporation of technologies that enhance its safety, precision, and clinical integration.