A coronary angiogram is a day procedure which looks closely at your coronary arteries to see if they are narrow or blocked, using a special type of x-ray dye.
It is performed in hospital under local anaesthetic. The procedure itself typically takes less than an hour but you will be in the hospital until later in the day.
Why do I need a Coronary Angiogram?
Your doctor may recommend a coronary angiogram if they suspect you have a heart problem such as coronary heart disease. You may have had tests such as an ECG or Stress ECG with abnormal results, needing further investigation.
What can I expect?
A Coronary Angiogram is an in-hospital day procedure that typically takes less than an hour.
It is performed by Global Cardiology’s heart specialists and a team of specialised cardiovascular nurses in hospital under a local anaesthetic.
You’ll be admitted to hospital on the day of the procedure.
When it’s time to begin, you’ll be taken to the procedure room and asked to lie on an operating table where you will be connected to a heart monitor.
You’ll be given medication to help you relax and provide pain relief.
You will then be given a local anaesthetic to numb either your wrist or groin. Your doctor will gently insert a catheter into an artery and move it inside the artery up to your heart.
Next, a dye will be injected into the artery to enable your Cardiologist to see the exact size and location of your artery. You may feel a warm flush when this happens.
Your doctor will then take x-ray images as the dye moves through your blood vessels, which will reveal any places where the arteries are narrow or blocked.
Finally, your doctor will remove the catheter and apply pressure to the area where it was inserted.
