Cardiac catheterization is a way to determine how well the heart is pumping blood and to detect blockages. If a problem is discovered, cardiac catheterization offers an alternative to open heart surgery for some patients through balloon angioplasty, which opens arteries allowing blood to flow more freely. Coronary stenting - in which a small, spring-like device is placed inside the artery - offers additional support to the arterial wall following angioplasty. Most procedures take from one to three hours to perform and are followed by a short hospital stay.