Angiography means checking blood vessels. coronary angiography means checking blood vessels which supply blood to the heart muscle.
This is a diagnostic test .
We come to know about the exact percentage of blockages and location of blockages as well type of blockage like fatty or very hard made of calcium particles.
Patient with angina, with abnormal TMT and patients with signs of heart attack, will be advised for Coronary angiogram to check his blockages.
This test is carried in a cathlab.
Cardiologist performs this procedure. majority of centres do coronary angiography from the wrist and not from the groin. we take the puncture at the wrist, pass a wire into the artery and over that wire, we pass a tube called a catheter. this tube then reaches up to the heart. we cannulate the coronary artery with this tube and inject a very small amount of dye .during injection of this dye, we take pictures of the heart with an x-ray machine.
We take this pictures in different angle to study the block completely.
During angiography, the patient is conscious and comfortable. he does not fill passage of catheter in his arm or chest. During the injection of dye, the patient may feel a mild warm sensation.
After completion of angiography, the catheter is removed and a bandage is applied over the wrist puncture site to stop bleeding. the patient is shifted back to the room
The dressing bandage can be removed after 6 to 8 hours and the patient can continue his routine normal life activity from the next day.
It is advisable to hydrate yourself a day prior to angiography and on the day of angiography.
If you are having any reaction to any drugs, it is better to inform your cardiologist beforehand.