What is the purpose of a cardiac puncture procedure?

The purpose of a cardiac puncture procedure primarily is to collect blood directly from the heart's ventricles. This method allows for the retrieval of a blood sample that can provide accurate information about the animal's physiology and overall health status. By accessing the blood directly from the heart, technicians can obtain samples that reflect the systemic circulation, enabling more precise investigations of blood components and potential disease states.

While administering medication is a common practice in veterinary procedures, it is not the primary aim of a cardiac puncture. Checking heart rhythm, typically done via an electrocardiogram, is also not a direct aspect of the cardiac puncture itself, as this procedure does not provide rhythmic data. Similarly, measuring blood pressure is performed using sphygmomanometry or other methods and is not achieved through cardiac puncture.