Left heart catheterization Left heart catheterization is most commonly used to assess Coronary artery anatomy and presence of coronary artery disease Left heart catheterization is also used to assess Aortic blood pressure Aortic valve function Left ventricular pressure and function Mitral valve function Systemic vascular resistance The procedure is done via femoral, subclavian, radial, or brachial artery puncture, with a catheter passed into the coronary artery ostia and / or across the aortic valve into the left ventricle (LV).