Neurology Medicine

“How will my arteries?” Is the question many people do when they find out clogged arteries are the leading cause of heart attacks. If you ask you too, coronary angiography can give you the answer. Keep reading for you to know what it is.

The find out how are arteries or veins inside can seem like an idea for a science fiction movie, but it really is important from a medical standpoint. When arteries harden and become clogged, blocking the passage of either blood that nourishes the heart, or blood coming out or reaches the heart, increases the risk of suffering a heart attack.

So there’s a coronary angiogram, also called an angiogram, a kind of test or medical procedure that allows evaluation (through an X-ray) to your coronary arteries (the heart) inside, to know if one is blocked.

How do you do? The technique of this test is really complex, not X-rays. Let me explain … First, after anesthetizing the skin, put a thin tube called a catheter through an artery usually in the groin (sometimes the arm) that comes into your heart, and the catheter will inject a dye (contrast material usually iodine) that enters the blood. This dye is visible in X-ray and can see the trail of blood through your heart and identify abnormalities such as an obstruction in its path, a dilation of the artery (called an aneurysm, etc.). The X-ray machine (also using a fluoroscope) took several pictures that can be stored in digital form on computer, which can be printed, to discuss in more detail. You will be given a sedative before the test. You can go home that day or the next depending on what you do and what they find.

Although it is a diagnostic procedure, when indicated, therapeutic maneuvers can be performed such as angioplasty. This is to uncover one or more blocked areas and put a stent. What is a tube that helps keep the artery open.

Although not simple, and obviously should not be performed in all people, has its indications and is now played by thousands of daily coronary angiography in this country and in many cases, save lives. Obviously, the benefits must outweigh the risks. The risks include heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrhythmia, decreased blood pressure, damage to the artery where the catheter is inserted, bleeding, blood clotting, allergy to contrast medium, infection or kidney damage (especially in patients with diabetes).

That’s why your doctor will recommend you only when there are indications that you are at risk of developing major heart problems. For example, when you’re in a cardiac emergency or when you feel a sharp chest pain (angina) alone or accompanied by an inexplicable pain in the arm, neck and jaw. Especially if associated with shortness of breath. Also can you recommend when you have other medical conditions where more information is needed as in certain congenital heart defects, certain shortcomings (faults) heart, certain problems or heart valves in your veins. Even some doctors recommend to coronary angiography when patients are going to go through another surgery and may be at risk during heart surgery.

Although coronary angiography is the most common because it assesses the arteries near the heart, not alone. Can also be made in other vessels of the body such as cerebral angiography, carotid angiography (head and neck), peripheral angiography (arms and legs) or the aorta (angiography of the aorta).

Furthermore, there are less invasive tests to know your arteries and veins inside, like magnetic resonance angiography or CT. However, the X-ray angiography is the most used and effective. In addition, when performed by an experienced professional team, has proven to be a safe procedure.

So if your doctor has recommended it should be because they can provide really important information for Your Health. If you are about to undergo coronary angiography, get informed on how well you prepare for the procedure and what to expect and well bring you avoid surprises.