What is it?
Angiography is essentially X-ray pictures of the coronary arteries taken as part of a cardiac catheterization procedure. A small catheter is threaded through an artery, usually in the leg to the coronary arteries. A dye is injected that allows the arteries to be seen on the X-ray. A film is obtained during the injection of the dye for analysis of the coronary artery anatomy and may reveal the presence of blockages if any.
Why is it Done??
Coronary arteries are the vessels which supply blood to the heart muscle. They are three in number and run on the surface of heart. .A Cardiologist will diagnose CAD on the basis of symptoms, ECG, stress testing (TMT), exercise thallium scan or stress echocardiography, and finally coronary angiography. To date, Angiography remains the gold standard for diagnosis and decision making for further management of the coronary artery disease. Angiography helps in determining the following:
How is it Done?
Patient will lie on a table that allows special x-rays to be taken of the heart that enable the doctor to scan while the heart is beating. A local anesthetic is given in the groin or in the wrist to numb the area and to prevent pain when the tube is inserted through a small incision. The tube is pushed toward the heart through the blood vessels and X-rays are used to follow the position of the tube. The patient will not feel the tube as it passes through the blood vessels. If a picture of the heart chambers, valves, or heart blood vessels is needed, a special dye is injected through the catheter. During this injection, moving x-ray pictures are recorded. The tube is then withdrawn and pressure applied over the puncture site until the bleeding stops.
Angiography - Myth and Reality
There is less than 1% risk of complications, like bleeding at the local site, allergic reaction to the contrast, or deterioration of renal function or cardiac condition. The latter risks are only in such cases where the blockage already exists in a substantial measure.
Preparation
Precautions & Prerequisites
Patients stay in the THI will normally be for eight to ten (8-10) hours. If the procedure is done in the morning, the patient can leave in the evening. Incase of an evening procedure, overnight stay is required.
Discharge
Angiography is essentially X-ray pictures of the coronary arteries taken as part of a cardiac catheterization procedure. A small catheter is threaded through an artery, usually in the leg to the coronary arteries. A dye is injected that allows the arteries to be seen on the X-ray. A film is obtained during the injection of the dye for analysis of the coronary artery anatomy and may reveal the presence of blockages if any.
Why is it Done??
Coronary arteries are the vessels which supply blood to the heart muscle. They are three in number and run on the surface of heart. .A Cardiologist will diagnose CAD on the basis of symptoms, ECG, stress testing (TMT), exercise thallium scan or stress echocardiography, and finally coronary angiography. To date, Angiography remains the gold standard for diagnosis and decision making for further management of the coronary artery disease. Angiography helps in determining the following:
- Presence, location, severity and the extent of blockages
- Angiography is performed under local anesthesia.
- Status of weakness of heart muscles after a heart attack.
- Measurement of chamber pressures if required.
- Status of valve function.
How is it Done?
Patient will lie on a table that allows special x-rays to be taken of the heart that enable the doctor to scan while the heart is beating. A local anesthetic is given in the groin or in the wrist to numb the area and to prevent pain when the tube is inserted through a small incision. The tube is pushed toward the heart through the blood vessels and X-rays are used to follow the position of the tube. The patient will not feel the tube as it passes through the blood vessels. If a picture of the heart chambers, valves, or heart blood vessels is needed, a special dye is injected through the catheter. During this injection, moving x-ray pictures are recorded. The tube is then withdrawn and pressure applied over the puncture site until the bleeding stops.
Angiography - Myth and Reality
There is less than 1% risk of complications, like bleeding at the local site, allergic reaction to the contrast, or deterioration of renal function or cardiac condition. The latter risks are only in such cases where the blockage already exists in a substantial measure.
Preparation
Precautions & Prerequisites
- In the OPD doctors evaluate the patient in detail and explain the procedure.
- The patient should inform the doctor if allergic to any medication or if the patient has aspirin intolerance. The patient should also inform about other prescribed medications.
- Blood tests, X-Ray and ECG are necessary workup procedures.
- The day Cath procedure is carried out in the OPD prior to the date of admission.
- Patients are requested to deposit the money at the Billing Counter.
- Patients are not supposed eat anything at least four hours before the procedure on the day of angiography. Patients can have tea, or clear fluids up to one hour before admission. Sips of water are only allowed.
- First course of the medication can be taken with morning tea. If the patient's angiography is scheduled in the afternoon, the patient may be asked to take a light breakfast or a glass of fruit juice.
- The angiography will take approximately 15-20 minutes. After the procedure the patients will be shifted on to a trolley and will be taken in the Cath Lab for observation and sheath removal.
- Once the patient is shifted to the ward the nurses will put a sandbag on the patients groin for 4 hours. Although the sandbag will be removed after 4 hours, patients are still not allowed to go to the toilet. The Patients will have to use a bed pot/pan.
- One family member / attendant will be allowed to meet the patient for whom an announcement will be made and a pass will be issued from the Information Counter.
- Patients should not move the right lower limb for about 5-6 hours after the procedure as this may interfere with the sealing mechanism of the artery and may result in bleeding from the puncture site.
- In the ward, patients are advised to drink plenty of fluids so that the dye is washed out from the blood and excreted in the urine. Once in the room, a meal will be served to you to help in the healing process.
Patients stay in the THI will normally be for eight to ten (8-10) hours. If the procedure is done in the morning, the patient can leave in the evening. Incase of an evening procedure, overnight stay is required.
Discharge
- You will be discharged either in the evening or next day morning depending on whether your angiography was done in the morning or evening.
- You can remove the dressing placed over your angiography puncture site the next day. Subsequently, you can bathe and no further dressing is required.
- Rest at home on the night after the procedure; patients can resume normal activities from the next day onwards.