Coronary artery angiography is an invasive test (a special catheter must reach the heart), performed only for clear medical indications, and not for every patient as usual. Find out how angiography works. What are the complications after coronary angiography?

Coronary artery angiographyis routinely performed in people preparing for heart valve replacement surgery. You can also be referred if your doctor suspects you have coronary artery disease.

Coronary angiography: what is this test for?

This research allows, inter alia, determine the condition of the coronary arteries, the degree of advancement of atherosclerotic lesions, locate the narrowing or obstruction of the coronary vessels, assess the degree of damage to the left ventricle, check the condition of the bypass (i.e. coronary artery bypass graft) if they were implanted, assess the effectiveness of treatment after the so-called ballooning (i.e. plastic surgery of the coronary artery).

Coronary angiography: preparation for the examination

If you are pregnant or in the second half of your menstrual cycle (i.e. you may be in early pregnancy) you cannot take this test. Before the test, you must perform an EKG, the so-called stress test, chest X-ray, as well as basic blood analysis (with the determination of group and coagulation). Sometimes an echo of the heart is needed. These tests are not always done in a hospital, sometimes you have to come back with the results - you will get a referral from your GP or cardiologist.

You should also get vaccinated against hepatitis B (hepatitis B), i.e. implant jaundice. Inform the physician who will perform the angiography of the coronary arteries about possible allergy to contrast agents, bleeding tendency (i.e. hemorrhagic diathesis), chronic diseases and about medications (especially medications that reduce blood clotting).

Coronary angiography: the course of the examination

Coronary angiography is only performed in a hospital. You have to spend one or two days there. You cannot eat anything on the day of the examination. If you take any medications on a daily basis, you do not need to stop your treatment (unless the coronary angiography doctor decides otherwise).

You lie down on the table, you get local anesthesia. Then a cardiologistmakes you an incision in your groin or the crook of your elbow. Next, a special needle is inserted into the femoral or brachial artery and this way a thin tube-catheter is inserted into the aorta. It slowly moves it to the orifices of the left and right coronary arteries (surrounding the heart like a crown) and to the left ventricle. Through the catheter, he injects the so-called contrast. When it begins to fill the vessels, the cardiologist x-rays you many times. He can maneuver the table and the arm with the X-ray machine. The point is that the photos should be taken from different angles, from different sides. During the examination, you must follow the doctor's instructions, e.g. breathe in and hold it for a long time or cough.

Coronary angiography usually takes no more than half an hour. At the end of the examination, the doctor puts a pressure dressing on the site of the catheter insertion. Sometimes, to make sure that the dressing presses the cut artery well, weighting bags filled with e.g. sand are placed over it. Then, for 10-12 hours, you need to lie almost still. The dressing cannot move as it would cause a hemorrhage.

After five or six hours the pressure is slightly released so that the blood can flow more freely and reach the toes (or the hand if the incision was made in the elbow flexion). Failure to do so could result in tissue necrosis. While lying down, you should drink a lot to eliminate the contrast with urine as soon as possible.

Coronary angiography: complications

After the examination, there are nausea, vomiting, headaches, chills. Sometimes the blood pressure drops. You may have a rash or erythema if you are allergic to contrast. More serious complications, such as breaking of a clot in a coronary artery, are extremely rare.

Important

Coronary angiographyis also called coronary angiography, angiocardiography, coronary arteriography, or cardiac catheterization.

  • Related research is:

Ventriculography - invasive examination of the heart cavities with the use of contrast agent Aortography - invasive examination of the aorta (main coronary artery) ) with contrast.

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