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What is a Coronary Angiogram ?A Coronary Angiogram [cardiac catheterization] is a test that will make arteries of the heart visible on an X-ray screen. A fine tube [a catheter] is passed into an artery and moved towards the arteries of the heart. This procedure is used to measure and show how effective the blood flows to the heart muscle. The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic. It is necessary for the patient to ‘fast’ for several hours prior to the procedure which lasts for approximately 30 minutes. The Doctor will select an artery in either the groin or in the arm. He will choose an artery close to the skin. The area chosen will be frozen [anesthetised] by injection. The procedure starts with the insertion of a very fine tube into the artery. With guidance provided by an X-ray screen the tube is moved towards the heart until it is in the required position. When the correct position is reached a dye is injected into the artery and as it flows and spreads it will show all the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. Video X-rays are taken of the dye as it passes through the blood vessels. Sometimes the passing of the dye creates a feeling similar to a ‘warm sensation’ in the body. During the procedure the patient is required to lie completely flat with hands behind the head. This can be quite uncomfortable after awhile. After the test the patient may have to remain lying completely flat in bed for approximately 4 hours. During this testing period there will be regular but routine blood pressure tests and checks for the pulse in the foot. If an ‘Angioseal’ has been used to complete the procedure then it should not be necessary for the patient to rest in this way for 4 hours. What are the medical risks ?Doctors will not recommend this procedure unless they feel that the results will assist in the diagnosis of the best treatment for the patient. It is highly probable that if the procedure is being considered then the likely consequences of the patient’s condition not being adequately investigated are more serious in terms of risk. The most common occurrence is a bruising [haematoma] of the groin area or the arm where the tube was inserted into the artery. The bruising can be extensive and may cause discomfort but usually heals without any specific treatment. There is a small risk of a heart attack during the procedure because the tube enters the blood vessels of the heart. On rare occasions this may prove to be fatal. The risk is calculated to be 1 in a 1,000 procedures. Consent FormPrior to the procedure the risks etc. are explained to the patient by a Doctor and the patient is required to sign a consent form confirming their understanding of the procedure and risks involved. Following the procedure and depending on the results there are usually three routes to take: - Prescribed medication - Angioplasty procedure - Coronary artery bypass graft
Cardiac Catheterization (heart cath) is the insertion of a catheter into a chamber or vessel of the heart. This is done for both investigational and interventional purposes. Coronary catheterization is a subset of this technique, involving the catheterization of the coronary arteries. A cardiac catheterization is a general term for a group of procedures that are performed using this method, such as coronary angiography. Once the catheter is in place, it can be used to perform a number of procedures including angioplasty, angiography, and balloon septostomy. Source: Wikipeadia
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