Final answer:
The cardiologist conducted cardiac catheterization to further investigate the patient's symptoms of shortness of breath and arm pain. This procedure is imperative for diagnosing conditions like coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, which often present with chest pain and other associated symptoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
To further define the etiology of the patient's symptoms, the cardiologist conducted a procedure in which a catheter is passed into the heart from a vessel in the groin to examine the condition of the heart. This procedure is known as cardiac catheterization, an important diagnostic tool in cardiology, especially useful in the evaluation of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction (MI), also known as a heart attack, and angina pectoris.
Acute MI is characterized by a sudden pain beneath the sternum, called angina, which often radiates down the left arm in males and is accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath (dyspnea), irregular heartbeat (palpitations), and nausea, among others. Given that these symptoms could also indicate other medical conditions, such as anxiety attacks or indigestion, a differential diagnosis is crucial. Cardiac catheterization helps in making a definitive diagnosis by visualizing the coronary arteries and assessing for blockages or other abnormalities.