Coronary angiogram refers to a medical procedure that involves getting an X-ray image of the arteries on the surface of the heart. This is done by introducing a long, thin and flexible tube made of plastic into the body, a process that is generically known as cardiac catheterization. Coronary Angiogram is done in order to assess the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. A coronary angiogram is recommended in cases of pain in the chest (angina) or unexplained pain in the jaws, neck or arm, which could be symptoms of coronary artery disease. Your doctor may also recommend this test if s/he suspects that there might be a defect in one of the valves of your heart, an obstruction in the coronary arteries or a risk of heart failure.
It is also customary to conduct this test before a scheduled heart surgery in order to ensure that there is no risk of developing major complications after the operation is done. Since there is a small margin of risk involved in this process, it is generally performed after non-invasive tests like electrocardiogram and stress imaging tests have already been conducted. These risks include injury to the catheterized artery, allergic reactions, infections and blood clots in the artery. In a few cases, the X-rays may also cause radiation exposure to the artery involved and the heartbeat may become irregular. Very rarely, the patient may suffer from a stroke or cardiac arrest while the test is being conducted, especially if s/he is already in a delicate state of health. Thus, caution should be practiced in recommending and conducting this test.
The actual procedure involves application of a local anesthetic on the portion of the chest where the perforation is made to introduce the catheter. The patient is made to lie on a flat, firm table and is fully awake so that s/he can report any feeling of discomfort while the test is being conducted. The catheter is used to introduce a dye into the bloodstream so that the coronary arteries become distinctly visible when they are exposed to X-rays. Once the dye spreads completely within the arteries, the heart is exposed to X-rays and is simultaneously examined through two moveable cameras from the opposite sides the chest, which take images of the heart from various angles in order to obtain a series of images that reveal the state of the coronary arteries. Depending on the results, your doctor will prescribe medication or surgery.
Submitted by M T on February 14, 2010 at 10:43