Angiography is derived from the Greek word ‘angeion’ definition vessel and ‘graphein’ which means to writ. Angiography or arteriography is a procedure of medical imaging where an X-Ray is taken of the heart to envision the inner opening of the arteries, veins and the four heart chambers, right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium and left ventricle. Angiography or angiogram lacks the insertion of a catheter, a thin tube into a peripheral artery. Coronary Angiography or Coronary Catheterization is a minimally invasive program to approach the coronary flow and blood chambers of the heart using a catheter. Coronary Catheterization was first introduced in 1950s.
During Coronary Catheterization a patient’s blood pressure and X-Ray shadowgrams of the blood in the coronary arteries are registered. To record the X-Ray images, a cardiologist guides a catheter through the extensive blood arteries till the tip of the catheter influence the opening of the coronary arteries.
Catheters are made with an immense radio density making it opaque to X-Rays permit a clearer, blood compatible X-Ray dye to be selectively injected and mixed with the blood running in the artery. Without the X-Ray dye, the blood and internal arrangement of the heart is not clearly visible. The cardiologist activates the equipment to apply cine, a higher X-Ray dose when he/she is ready to record the diagnostic views. The diagnostic views can be saved and studied later.
Simple Coronary Angiography regularly takes about half an hour to complete.
Swelling, redness, unusual pain, or infection at the site of insertion.
Constant or large amount of bleeding from the site of insertion.
Hospitals use CT Angiography or Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography, as a non- invasive process to detect blockages in the coronary arteries. 64 slice CT Angio system is used to detect dysfunctions like narrowing of the coronary arteries, soft plaque and fat.
First and foremost thing for the patient, before reasoning of Coronary Cardiac CT Angiography is that he should discuss his doctor. Because, the usage of Coronary CTA is perfectly appropriate and scans during the procedure from X-ray exposures, there is some risk involved. It is the responsibility of the doctor that he should do accurate selection of the patient so that any kind of risk involved, is reduced.
There are no remains of radiation in the body of the patient after an x-ray examination.
Due to angiography, the need of surgery may get eliminated. If surgery is necessary then the whole procedure becomes accurate.
X-rays generally do not have any side effects.
After the method, the patient is moved to the special care area. Here he is monitored for overnight or a few hours where his movements are kept minimum for avoiding bleeding from the area where the catheter was inserted. At the site of recovery, your heart rate and blood pressure are also checked after regular intervals along with any kind of possible bleeding.
It is also available that the area where the catheter was inserted, that area might become delicate or sore for about a week’s time. A small bruise may also arrive on the patient’s arms, upper thigh or neck, near the site of insertion.