Angiography

What is angiography?

Also known as arteriography, angiography is a medical imaging test performed to observe how well your blood vessels and heart muscles are functioning. It basically sheds light on the condition of arteries, veins, and the cardiac chambers. It is performed by injecting a radio-opaque substance in the blood and tracking its circulation by x-ray imaging techniques.

Who should undergo angiography?

Angiography is generally conducted to observe if the arteries have become too narrow. Narrowed blood vessels put extra pressure on the heart and can lead to several fatal conditions such as ischemia or stroke. It is also used to detect blockage, swelling, or any malfunction in the heart, brain, abdomen, or legs. Usually, people diagnosed with heart diseases or circulatory diseases such as phlebitis are the ones who have to undergo this procedure.

When does a doctor prescribe an angiography?

If you have been experiencing the following symptoms, your doctor might ask you to undergo this procedure:
Chest pain – constant or increasing in nature.
Radiating pain in the chest, jaw, and arms with no apparent cause.
A person with congenital heart disease
Trauma/injury to the chest area
Abnormal results of the stress test
Angiography is an invasive test and is usually prescribed after the usual non-invasive tests such as EEG and ECG have been conducted. This is considered to be the “gold standard” test for confirming the onset of CAD or coronary artery disease.

What makes a person prone to heart/circulatory diseases?

There are several factors that can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases – age, tobacco intake, alcohol intake, unhealthy diet (high in sugar and transfat), stress, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and trauma.

What are the different types of angiography procedures?

Coronary – Liquid injected in the blood vessels of the heart to check for narrowing/blockage.

Fluorescein – Blood vessels of the eyes are tested via angiography to detect eye disorders.

Neurovascular – Arteries and veins of the brain are observed for presence of clots/plaque.

Peripheral – Blood vessels of the legs/feet are studied for peripheral arterial disease

In this process, a dye which can be detected in an x-ray is injected into the bloodstream. Depending upon the suspected condition (ocular or cardiac or neuro), the dye is injected in the respective blood vessels. After this, the x-ray machine captures a series of images at a high speed that depicts the flow of the dye within these blood vessels.
In case of coronary angiography (the most commonly prescribed form of angiography), the radio-opaque dye is inserted via a catheter which is threaded into the forearm (along an artery). The angiography images (angiogram) can reveal if there is stenosis (narrowing of arteries). The access point of the catheter is generally in the arm, but in some cases, it could be in the groin region too. Once the process is over, the radio-opaque dye is automatically flushed from your body via urine.

Can people be allergic to angiography dye?

It has been observed that 1 out 50,000 – 150,000 people will develop severe anaphylaxis owing to the radio-opaque dye insertion in the arteries. Such an adverse allergic reaction may result in dizziness, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness. 1 out of 1,000 people might suffer a stroke (if the dye travels to the brain) and even experience cardiac arrest.

When can I go home after the angiogram is taken?

You can go home on the same day. In case, angioplasty has been performed during the angiography procedure or there are some other complications, your doctor might ask you to remain admitted for the day.

When can I see my angiogram?

Angiography is an imaging diagnostic tool. It doesn’t provide you accurate information in terms of numbers, unlike blood tests. The concerned doctor takes into account the kind of ailment you have and prepares a written report based on the specific requirement of the case. The time required for a complete angiogram report depends on the urgency and complexity of the case.

What information does an angiogram reveal?

The angiogram report will tell whether or not you have blocked arteries/veins. An abnormal angiogram means you have stenosis, aka, narrowing of arteries and will require angioplasty.

How will I know if my angiogram is normal or not?

The image of the path traced by the radio-opaque dye will provide information on whether your circulation is normal or abnormal. In a normal angiogram, one can clearly see the path traced by the dye. Whereas in case of the abnormal angiogram, the path traced within the arteries will be appeared blurred and blocked.