Coronary Angiography is a procedure that uses X-ray imaging to see the blood vessels of the heart of the patient.
The doctor will perform this test to see if there is a restriction in blood flow to the heart.
Moreover, coronary angiography is part of the general group of procedures. This is known as the heart of cardiac catheterizations.
Cardiac catheterization procedures can help to both, diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel conditions.
A coronary angiogram helps to diagnose heart conditions and is the most common type of cardiac catheterization procedure.
During the procedure, a type of dye that is visible by an X-ray machine is injected into the blood vessel of the heart of the patient.
The X-ray machine rapidly takes a series of images or angiograms offering a look at the blood vessels of the patient.
If necessary, a doctor can open clogged heart arteries, or perform angioplasty during the coronary angiography.
Keep on reading.
Uses of Coronary Angiography
The doctor can recommend a patient to have this procedure if they have any one of the following:
- symptoms of coronary artery disease like chest pain or angina
- pain in the chest, jaw, neck, and arms that can’t be explained with the help of other tests
- new or increasing chest pain or unstable angina
- a defect a patient is born with or congenital heart disease
- abnormal results on a non-invasive heart test
- other blood vessel problems or a chest injury
- heart valve problem that needs surgery
As there is a small risk of complications, angiograms are not often done until after noninvasive heart tests have been performed.
These can include an electrocardiogram, an echocardiogram, or a stress test.
Learn more about Medical Diagnostic Imaging here.
Preparing for the Procedure
Doctors often use an MRI or CT scan before performing the procedure of a coronary angiography test.
This is in an effort to pinpoint problems with the heart of a patient.
It is important for the patient to avoid drinking or eating anything for eight hours before the test angiography.
Moreover, they should arrange for someone to give them a ride home.
Also, they should have someone stay with them the night after as the patient may feel dizzy or lighthearted for the first 24 hours after the cardiac angiography.
In most cases, the doctor will ask the patient to check into the hospital the morning of the test.
And the patient can check out later the same day.
At the hospital, the doctor can ask the patient to wear a hospital gown and to sign the consent form.
The nurses with taking the blood pressure, start an intravenous line, and in case the patient has diabetes, check the blood sugar level.
Furthermore, the patient may also have to undergo a blood test and electrocardiogram.
It is important for the patient to let their doctor know if:
- they are allergic to seafood,
- have a bad reaction to contrast dye in the past
- or if they are taking sildenafil or Viagra,
- if they may be pregnant
The procedure of Coronary Angiography
Before the test, the doctor will give a mild sedative to the patient to help them relax.
However, during the test, the procedure patient will be awake throughout the test.
The doctor will clean and numb an area of the body of the patient in the groin or arm with an anesthetic.
They may feel a dull pressure as a sheath is inserted into the artery.
The thin tube: A tube called a Catheter will be guided gently up to an artery in the heart of the patient.
The doctor will supervise the whole process on the screen.
It is unlikely for the patient to feel the tube move through their blood vessels.
How the Test will Feel?
A slight burning or flushing sensation can be felt hours after the dye is injected into the body of the patent.
After the test, to prevent bleeding, the doctor or health care provider will apply pressure at the site where they will remove the catheter.
They will do this to prevent bleeding.
However, if they place the catheter in the groin of the patient, they may ask the patient to lie flat on the back for a few hours after the test to prevent bleeding.
This can cause mild back discomfort.
It is important for the patient to drink plenty of water after the test to help the kidneys flush out the contrast dye.
Understanding the Results of Coronary Angiography
The results of the procedure show whether there is a normal supply of blood in the heart of the patient and any blockage that may be present.
However, an abnormal test will help to show that the patient has one or more blocked arteries.
In case a patient has a blocked artery, the doctor may choose to do an angioplasty during an angiography.
Also, they can insert an intracoronary stent immediately which will have to improve blood flow.
Angioplasty
Angioplasty with stent placement is a minimally invasive procedure and the following steps occur during the procedure:
The cardiologist will make a small incision into the groin to access an artery of the patient.
Then they will insert a thin, flexible tube or catheter through the incision, and guide the catheter up through the body to the coronary arteries of the patient.
This will allow the doctor to view the arteries using a type of X-ray: fluoroscopy and a special dye will also guide them.
Moreover, your cardiologist will pass a small wire through the catheter and the second catheter will then follow the guide wire.
It is important to note that this catheter has a small balloon attached to it.
Once the balloon reaches a blocked artery, the cardiologist will inflate it.
They will then insert a stent at the same time as the balloon, allowing the artery to remain open and blood flow to return.
Once the stent is secure, the cardiologist will remove the catheter and leave the stent in place so that the blood can continue to flow.
Furthermore, some stents are coated in medications that slowly release into the artery.
These are called drug-eluting stents, DES.
These stents help to fight fibrosis, a buildup of tissue that prevents the affected artery from closing.
Bare metal stents, or those that are not coated in medications, can also be used in some cases.
Risks of Getting a Coronary Angiography
As with all medical procedures, there are both risks and benefits associatehaving coronary angiography and angioplasty.
It is important for the patient to talk to the doctor, nurse, and other health professionals about the risks and benefits and any concerns they may have.
The healthcare team can also give more information about the individual circumstances and the level of risk.
Minor Complications can include:
- bleeding under the skin at the wound site, however, this will improve after a few days
- it is important to contact the GP if the paticoncernedncenred about it
- bruising, it is common to have a bruise from the catheter for a few weeks
- allergy contrastotnrast dye,causing symptoms like a rash
It is important that the patient should discuss the allergies they may have with the cardiologist before having the procedure
More Serious Complication
These are uncommon, however, can include:
- seriuos bleeding
- stroke
- heart attack
- damage to the kidneys that may occur due to contrast dye
- tissue damage due to x-ray radiation in case the procedure is prolonged
- damage to the artery in the arm or groin from the catheter, possibly affecting the blood supply to the limb
- in some cases, it can even cause death
It is important to note that a patient is more likely to develop complications depending on the age, the older a patient is the higher the risk of the procedure being planned or being an emergency treatment.
In case of emergency treatment, it is often riskier as there is less time to plan it and the patient is unwell to start with.
If the patient has kidney disease, the dye during the angioplasty can cause further damage, if the patient has one or more blocked coronary arteries, or if they have a history of seriuos heart disease.
In case the pictures from the angiography show a narrowing or blockage that the doctor can treat immediately, the cardiologist may decide to continue and put a stent at once.
Recovery and Follow-up
It is important for the patient to grow and drink plenty of water, and avoid smoking or drinking alcohol.
As the doctor administers an anesthetic, the patient should not drive, operate machinery, or make any important decisions immediately.
They can remove the bandage after 24 hours, however, if there is minor oozing, they can apply a fresh bandage for another 12 hours.
For two days, the patient should not perform any heavy exercise.
Moreover, they should avoid taking bath, using a hot tub, or using a pool for at least three days, however, they can take a shower.
It is important to avoid applying lotion near the puncture site for three days.
The patient will need to see the heart doctor or cardiologist a week after the test.
