What are the signs you might need a coronary angiogram?
- Angina or chest pain
- Congenital heart defect
- Chest injury
Overview
- A coronary angiogram is an X-ray procedure used to examine the blood flow in the heart and the arteries.
- Signs that you might need to undergo this treatment include experiencing chest pain, having a congenital heart defect, and sustaining a chest injury.
- Knowing the procedure steps can help potential patients make informed decisions about the procedure.
Heart diseases remain the leading cause of death in the Philippines, with 76, 901 cases reported in 2023. Taking care of our hearts and their vessels includes monitoring them. A coronary angiogram is a medical treatment where your heart and blood vessels are examined using an X-ray machine. By looking at how the blood flows through your arteries, this test helps determine whether your blood vessels are blocked or narrowed. It is used to diagnose coronary artery disease, which helps you prevent more serious complications.
Here are some signs you might need to undergo this medical procedure.
When Do You Need a Coronary Angiogram?
A coronary angiogram is recommended when symptoms or risk factors indicate potential heart problems. This procedure helps diagnose coronary artery disease, heart valve issues, or other cardiovascular abnormalities, enabling timely and effective treatment.
When You Experience Angina or Chest Pain
Coronary artery disease (CAD) can occur when cholesterol plaque builds up in the arteries over time. This reduces the blood flow to the heart, which leads to chest pains.
Doctors would generally recommend a coronary angiogram when a patient experiences the following:
- You’re feeling chest pain for the first time.
- Your chest pain has become worse. It doesn’t go away, occurs more often, or happens when you are resting.
- You are experiencing pain in your general chest area (jaw, neck, or arm) that cannot be explained by other tests.
When You Have a Congenital Heart Defect
This test, also known as cardiac or heart catheterization, is recommended for people with blood vessel problems or heart valve diseases.
When You’ve Had a Significant Chest Injury
It can also be performed on people with sustained serious chest injuries. It helps medical professionals identify the location of the injury and how to stop it.
The Procedure
A cardiac catheterization is performed in a hospital’s catheterization laboratory or a cath lab, which can take an hour or more while you’re most likely awake throughout the operation.
Before the Procedure
You may be asked to do the following:
- Tell your healthcare providers of any allergies you have or any substances that you’ve had bad reactions to in the past.
- Inform your doctors and nurses of any maintenance medicine you have taken or are currently taking.
- Notify your physician if you are pregnant.
- Fast for several hours.
Once you’ve got the all-clear signal from your doctor, you’ll then change into a hospital gown and, if needed, clear your bladder. Accessories such as your glasses, jewelry, hair clips, and contact lenses should be removed.
During the Procedure
When you’re in the cath lab, a mild sedative will be given to help you relax. After cleaning and numbing a part of your body (arm or groin), the doctor will make a small cut to reach an artery. They will pass a thin, hollow tube (a catheter) through an artery and into your body.
Once the catheter is in place, a dye will be injected. This dye or contrast material is key to the procedure. X-ray images allow the doctor to examine how the dye travels through your arteries. The area could be narrowed or blocked if it does not move through a blood vessel.
If a blockage is found, the doctor may treat it by placing a stent (a small mesh tube). But most of the time, they will go over your treatment plan with you before the operation.
After the Procedure
Post-operation is different for each person. You’ll be sent to an inpatient or recovery ward when the catheter is removed. You may also need to lie on your back for several hours to avoid bleeding from the catheter insertion. Depending on how the test went, you may be cleared to go home the same day or stay in the hospital for at least one night.
Doctors may recommend drinking water or other fluids to flush out the dye from your body. Heavy lifting and intense exercise should be avoided for a few days. Your healthcare professional will tell you when you can be fit to return to work and your daily routine.
Call your primary doctor or your doctor’s office if you experience the following after an operation:
- Fever
- Chest pain
- Bleeding or bruising at the catheter site
- Numbness in the arm or leg
Key Takeaway
Undergoing a coronary angiogram can be made easier by knowing your operation and all it entails. This test is not recommended until other non-invasive or non-surgical tests are used to check your heart. Consult your doctor to know if you need to undergo this procedure.
Here at Perpetual Help Medical Center – Las Piñas, we are eager to serve all your medical needs. Our dedicated Heart and Vascular Institute specializes in complex cardiovascular procedures and can answer any inquiries you may have about our procedures. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.
