What is coronary angiography?
Coronary angiography, or coronary angiography, is an X-ray examination during which the coronary arteries, i.e., the arterial vessels that surround the heart and whose function is to transport blood to the heart, are observed. To obtain images of the coronary arteries and how the circulation works, we work “in contrast”, that is, with a liquid that is visible in contrast to the X-rays. The liquid is released by a catheter, i.e., a thin tube inserted into the arterial vessels is guided to the coronary arteries, where it will release the liquid.
What does it consist of?
To perform coronary angiography, local anesthesia is applied at the point where the catheter is inserted. This is introduced into the system through one of the main arteries of the body: the brachial, radial or femoral artery, but the latter is preferred because, being the largest, it allows passage more easily without the need for further manual intervention. The probe is guided to the entrance of the coronary artery and at this point the contrast liquid is diffused in the system to darken the entire artery and make the obstructed parts visible. At the end of the procedure, the specialist must compress the site where the probe was inserted with a tourniquet to facilitate the action of the platelets that will block the blood flow.
The procedure is performed without the need for prolonged hospitalization and without any other type of intervention in the wound.
Coronary angiography is performed to evaluate the state of blood flow within the coronary arteries.
Why is it performed?
Coronary angiography is performed to evaluate the state of blood flow within the coronary arteries. With this exploration it is possible to observe if the arteries are free, if there is presence of blood clots, obstructions or cholesterol deposits. The specialist prescribes the test for:
- Coronary artery disease.
- Genetic abnormalities in the heart already present at birth.
- Genetic defects or acquired defects due to various types of trauma to the heart valves.
- Sudden sharp pain in the chest, in the arm.
- Heart failure.
- To schedule and/or evaluate the possibility of a surgical intervention.
- Checking the result of a previous operation, e.g. in case of bypass.
Preparation for coronary angiography
Preparation for the test is quite simple, the patient must be fasting and hospitalized. The specialist will then perform a test to assess a possible allergy to the contrast solution. Coronary angiography is an invasive investigation and should only be performed if all other non-invasive tests have failed to identify the cause of the disease. However, thanks to modern medicine, the procedure is no longer painful today, as the discomfort of inserting the catheter and releasing the contrast fluid is effectively neutralized with local anesthesia.
What does the test feel like?
The test is not painful as it is performed under the effects of anesthesia. The day after the test, the patient may feel pain at the site where the catheter was placed, although of short duration. Only if the catheters have been placed in the groin will it be necessary to rest for 12 hours after the test. It is also important to drink plenty of water to flush out the contrast fluids used in the procedure.