What is a Coronary Angiogram?

A coronary angiogram is an x-ray of the coronary arteries (which supply blood to   the heart). It is used to see if there is any blockage or narrowing of the coronary arteries thereby detecting the extent of heart disease.

How do I know if I need the test?

Our cardiologists can advise you whether you need the test.  The Coronary Angiography is often carried out after preliminary tests to detect heart disease.  If you have symptoms such as chest pain and breathlessness you may benefit from the procedure.  It is however, an invasive procedure, albeit relatively minor, so there may be an alternative approach suggested to you.

How do I prepare for the test?

Do not drive to the hospital as you should not drive home immediately after the procedure. We will ask you to stop taking any blood thinning drugs 3 or 4 days before the test. If you have diabetes you should not to take your insulin or diabetic tablets on the morning of the test. We will normally carry out your investigation early in the morning so that you can recommence your diabetic medication.  You will be asked not to eat or drink for a minimum of 4-6 hours before the procedure.  On the day of the procedure when you come into hospital we will be able to explain the procedure again to you and answer any questions you may have.  You will change into a gown and be asked to shave your right groin and then we will be ready to begin the procedure. 

What will happen during the test?

During the angiogram, we will inject a special dye into the coronary arteries. To do that, a thin tube (catheter) is inserted through a blood vessel, usually in the upper thigh, and guided all the way up to the heart. Once the catheter is in place, the dye can be injected through the catheter and into the coronary arteries. Then the x-ray can be taken.

The area where the catheter is inserted is numbed with a local anaesthetic but you will be awake for the entire procedure. You shouldn’t feel the movement of the catheter when it moves through the blood vessels but the insertion of the catheter can sometime feel slightly uncomfortable.  We can give you a mild sedative if you feel a little nervous.

When the catheter is removed at the end of the procedure there may be little bleeding from the needle puncture site. To control this, pressure is applied to the site and we frequently use a little plug to close the tiny hole left after removing the catheter.  If we use a “plug”, you will probably be able to get up and go home after a couple of hours. If for technical reasons a plug cannot be used, you will need to stay in the hospital 5 to 6 hours before going home. You should ask a friend or relative to accompany you and take you home.  When you get home we want you to rest and not to exercise but you can resume normal activities the next day including bathing when you feel comfortable.

What will the test result tell me?

Our doctors will be able to tell you the result during the investigation so that if a follow-up procedure is required such as coronary stenting, it can be carried out at the same time.  In any case the scan will show up blockages in or narrowing of the coronary arteries.

What happens next?

Depending on what the angiogram reveals our doctors may recommend treatments such as medication, a catheter-based procedure (e.g. balloon angioplasty, coronary stenting) or surgery (e.g. bypass surgery).