Coronary Angiography Essay

Description

Angiography is a technique used to examine the abnormalities, blockages in the blood vessels throughout the circulatory system. It is an X-ray study of the blood vessels.

Pre Surgery

A doctor may recommend you Coronary Angiography if you have signs and symptoms like Pain in chest, shoulders, arms, neck, jaw or back. Sometimes sudden cardiac arrest in which your heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating or abnormal results from tests like EKG (Electrocardiogram), stress test.

In case of Heart attack angiography can be done on emergency basis. If it shows blockages in your coronary arteries, than doctor may do a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention, also known as angioplasty, it opens blocked heart arteries and prevent further heart damage.

Coronary Angiography helps the doctor to plan a treatment. The area where catheter will be inserted is

numbed through local anaesthesia.

Surgery & Hospitalization
Coronary Angiography is performed by a Cardiologist or Radiologist with other healthcare team member to assist him.

During this procedure the puncture is usually made in the groin area, armpit, inside elbow or neck through which an intravenous line (IV) will be inserted into a vein in your arm which is used to deliver sedatives or other medication as required. Other vitals like blood pressure, heartbeat are continuously monitored during this procedure. A small plastic tube will be placed into one of your arteries, than a catheter is inserted through the plastic tube and to examine the arteries. The catheter is usually inserted into an artery till the area where it needs to get

examined.
X-rays are used to guide whether the catheter is at right place or not.

Through catheter contrast agent is injected and a series of X-rays will be taken. This will allow a map of the arteries to be created.

The procedure is not painful but you may feel mild burning or warm sensation due to contrast agent in your blood vessels. Depending on the complexity of your condition, procedure may take from 30 to two

hours.
In some cases, other procedures can be carried at the same time, such as inserting a balloon or a small tube called a stent through the catheter to open up a narrowed artery. This is known as angioplasty. Once the procedure has been completed, the catheter is removed and the incision is closed using manual pressure, a plug or a clamp.

Post- Discharge
After angiography will be done, you will be taken to a recovery room for monitoring and observation. To prevent bleeding from the site of incision, you will advised to lie straight for few hours.
Depending on your condition, your doctor will advise you discharge and some precautions like avoid bath or shower for few days, avoid lifting heavy objects and when can you resume to your daily normal activities.

Side Effects, Chances of recurrence & Complications
As procedure involves puncturing an artery – haemorrhage or chances of internal bleeding, infection at the puncture site or bloodstream are some of the possible risks.
Sometimes some patient may allergic to contrast medium used during procedure may results in swelling , difficulty in breathing , heart failure or variation in blood pressure level , therefore if patient is allergic to any medicine needs to confirm prior to procedure , therefore medications can be given to them to protect from these symptoms. It also involves minor exposure to radiation through x-rays.