Interventional (and diagnostic) catheterization is an important tool in congenital heart disease. It has evolved from atrial septostomy in the 1970s to a wide range of procedures including device closure of various defects and percutaneous valve implantation nowadays.

As any form of invasive study or treatment, it is not without risks and serious complications may occur. Therefore, it should only be performed after balancing the advantages and risks of the procedure [1]. The risk associated with the use of ionizing radiation for these procedures should be kept in mind, especially because of the young age of many of these patients.

The patient (or his or her legal representative) has to agree on the suggested treatment, but can only do so after having been informed appropriately. The combination of the duty to inform and the agreement of the patient with the treatment plan is called informed consent.

Informed consent is an essential step in any diagnostic or interventional cardiac catheterization in a patient with congenital cardiac disease.