What Is Coronary Angiography?
Coronary angiography is considered the most accurate and reliable method of evaluating and diagnosing coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease occurs when plaque made up of fatty deposits and cholesterol clog the arteries of the heart, causing them to narrow and harden and making it difficult for blood to flow properly throughout the body. Coronary artery disease can lead to heart attacks and even death.
Coronary angiography diagnoses this by examining the blood vessels, arteries and chambers of the heart via a specific type of x-ray and a catheter (a narrow tube) threaded through the blood vessels. A contrast dye is injected into the patient and helps the physician see the images more clearly on the monitor. It is also used to diagnose different forms of angina, (also known as chest pain), heart failure, and a number of other disorders and abnormalities of the heart.
How Is the Test Performed ?
Coronary angiography is usually done in conjunction with cardiac catheterization. Cardiac catheterization uses a monitor that allows the doctor to see how the patient’s heart is functioning real-time, allowing the doctor to be able to diagnose a number of different forms of heart disease and abnormalities.
Coronary angiography uses local anesthesia, which means the patient will be awake for the procedure but numbed so they will not feel any pain. The entire procedure generally takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
Coronary angiogrpahy is most often done outpatient in the hospital. Upon arrival, the patient changes into a hospital gown and is given a sedative to help ease anxiety and relax. The doctor or technician will clean the part of the body where the catheter will be inserted and then numb it with the local anesthetic. In some cases, the area will need to be shaved as well. For most patients, the catheter is inserted into an artery in the groin or the arm.
Once the area is cleansed, an IV will be started and the catheter will be inserted. The doctor then threads the catheter through the blood vessels and up to the heart’s arteries. The x-ray images on the tv monitor help guide the doctor to the correct location. Contrast dye is then injected into the body via the IV. This dye makes the x-ray images easier to see and highlights the areas of the arteries that are clogged.
When the procedure is completed, the catheter is removed and the artery in which the IV was inserted is sealed off and bandaged to prevent further bleeding.
Risks Involved
Coronary angiography is considered a very risk-free test. There may be mild discomfort when the IV is inserted, and some patients experience tenderness and bruising in the area after the IV is removed.
Rarely, people who undergo coronary angiography will experience an allergic reaction to the dye. The dye itself is not harmful and can be flushed out of the system easily if the patient drinks plenty of fluids after the procedure. People with allergies to iodine and shellfish sometimes experience allergic reactions to the dye and should inform their physician if they have these allergies.
Coronary angiography is considered the most effective method for diagnosing coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, and death. It is a fast, accurate, and relatively pain-free procedure and is often used in conjunction with cardiac catheterization to provide the most accurate results.