Preparing questions in advance may help patients have more meaningful discussions with their physicians. Patients may wish to ask their doctors the following questions related to catheter-based procedures:

1. Why are you using this procedure rather than surgery?
   
   
2. How many of these procedures have you performed?
   
   
3. Does this procedure both diagnose and treat my condition?
   
   
4. If I get this repair with catheterization, is there a possibility I may need open surgery later?
   
   
5. I am extremely nervous. Can I receive a general anesthesia for this procedure?
   
   
6. Would you have to change your approach based on something you find during this catheter-based procedure?
   
   
7. Will I have pain after the procedure?
   
   
8. Will I have to stop any of my medications before this procedure?
   
   
9. Will this procedure need to be repeated if it does not repair my problem?
   
   
10. In the event something goes wrong during the procedure, what can I expect to happen?