Coronary angiography (femoral & radial routes)

Coronary angiography

Coronary angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye (contrast material) and x-rays to see how blood flows through the arteries in your heart.

How the Test is Performed

Coronary angiography is sometimes performed with cardiac catheterization. This is a procedure that measures pressures in the heart chambers.

Before the test starts, you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax.

An area of your body (the arm or groin) is cleaned and numbed with a local numbing medicine (anesthetic). The cardiologist passes a thin hollow tube, called a catheter, through an artery and carefully moves it up into the heart. X-ray images help the doctor position the catheter.

Once the catheter is in place, dye (contrast material) is injected into the catheter. X-ray images are taken to see how the dye moves through the artery. The dye helps highlight any blockages in blood flow.

How to Prepare for the Test

You should not eat or drink anything for 8 hours before the test starts.

You will wear a hospital gown. You must sign a consent form before the test. Your health care provider will explain the procedure and its risks.

Tell your provider if you:

• Are allergic to any medicines or if you have had a bad reaction to contrast material in the past
• Are taking sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), tadalafil (Cialis) or other medicines from this class
• Might be pregnant

How the Test will Feel

In most cases, you will be awake during the test. You may feel some pressure at the site where the catheter is placed.

You may feel a flushing or warm sensation after the dye is injected.

After the test, the catheter is removed. You might feel a firm pressure being applied at the insertion site to prevent bleeding. If the catheter is placed in your groin, you will be asked to lie flat on your back for a few hours to several hours after the test to avoid bleeding. This may cause some mild back discomfort.

Why the Test is Performed

Coronary angiography may be done if:

• You have angina for the first time.
• Your angina that is becoming worse, not going away, occurring more often, or happening at rest (called unstable angina).
• You have aortic stenosis or another heart valve problem.
• You have atypical chest pain, when other tests are normal.
• You had an abnormal heart stress test.
• You are going to have surgery on your heart and you are at high risk for coronary artery disease.
• You have heart failure.
• You have been diagnosed as having a heart attack.

Normal Results

There is a normal supply of blood to the heart and no blockages.