Angiogram

What is angiogram?

Visualisation of the blood vessels of the body with the help of x-rays after injecting a contrast which is usually made of iodine is called angiography. When it involves the vessels of the heart, it is called coronary angiography or coronary angiogram

How is coronary angiogram done?

A long narrow tube(catheter) is either inserted from the artery at the wrist or of the thigh(groin) and taken upto the heart. Here it is hooked against the coronary arteries which courses over the heart muscles. An iodine based contrast dye is injected and the opacification of the vessels is visualised live or as pictures with the help of x-rays.

Coronary angiogram is a relatively safe procedure when done by experts and the test per se should not take more than 15min.

There is a very small risk of damage to the kidneys due to the dye and exposure to x-rays which can be harmful. Good hydration before the test and judicious use of x-ray exposure can greatly reduce this risk. Other complications are very very uncommon.

Who should be subjected to a coronary angiogram?

Those who have had heart attack or typical chest pain or a positive TMT can get to know the severity of the block in the blood vessels and it will guide the cardiologist in patient management with respect to doing a corrective revasuclarisation procedure or to manage with medications alone.

The test can only be done in a tertiary hospital where there is a cathlab