Coronary
angiography (an-jee-OG-rah-fee) is a test that uses dye and special x rays to
show the insides of your coronary arteries. The coronary arteries supply
oxygen-rich blood to your heart.
A
waxy substance called plaque (plak) can build up inside the coronary arteries.
The buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries is called coronary heart disease(CHD).
Over
time, plaque can harden or rupture (break open). Hardened plaque narrows the
coronary arteries and reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This
can cause chest pain or discomfort called angina (an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh).
If
the plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form on its surface. A large blood clot
can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery. This is
the most common cause of a heart attack. Over time, ruptured plaque also hardens and
narrows the coronary arteries.
Overview
During coronary angiography,
special dye is released into the bloodstream. The dye makes the coronary
arteries visible on x-ray pictures. This helps doctors see blockages in the
arteries.
A procedure called cardiac catheterization (KATH-eh-ter-ih-ZA-shun) is used to
get the dye into the coronary arteries.
For this procedure, a thin,
flexible tube called a catheter is put into a blood vessel in your arm, groin
(upper thigh), or neck. The tube is threaded into your coronary arteries, and
the dye is released into your bloodstream. X-ray pictures are taken while the
dye is flowing through the coronary arteries.
Cardiologists (heart
specialists) usually do cardiac catheterization in a hospital. You're awake
during the procedure, and it causes little or no pain. However, you may feel
some soreness in the blood vessel where the catheter was inserted.
Cardiac catheterization
rarely causes serious complications.
