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Coronary Angiography Treatment in Navi Mumbai

Coronary Angiography

Centre for Cardiac Sciences

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Coronary angiography is a procedure that employs X-ray imaging to view the blood vessels of the heart. The test is generally performed to determine any obstruction or restriction in the blood flow to the heart. During coronary angiography, a dye that can be detected by the X-ray machine is injected into the heart's blood vessels. The X-ray machine collects a series of images of the heart and also offers a look at the blood vessels. If needed, a procedure called angioplasty that involves the opening of clogged arteries of the heart may be performed in the same sitting.

Coronary angiograms are part of a general procedure carried out to evaluate the functioning of the heart called cardiac catheterization. Cardiac catheterization can both diagnose and treat cardiac and vascular diseases.

You might be recommended to undergo a coronary angiography procedure if you have:

  • Systems of disease of the heart's arteries such as chest pain
  • Unexplained, persistent pain in the chest, jaw, neck, or arm
  • New chest pain or worsening of the existing chest pain
  • Congenital heart defects
  • A positive result on a non-invasive heart stress test
  • An abnormal heart valve that requires surgery
  • Angiography has certain complications, so it is not recommended until non-invasive heart tests have been performed, such as echocardiography, electrocardiography, or a heart stress test

Just like any other procedure involving the heart and blood vessels, coronary angiography has some risks, mainly due to the radiation exposure from the X-rays used. Other risks and potential complications include:

  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Injury to the artery involved
  • Arrhythmia or irregular heart rhythms
  • Allergic reaction to the contrast dye or other medications used during the procedure
  • Damage to the kidney
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Infection

A few days prior to when the procedure is scheduled, the healthcare team will give you specific instructions and prescribe any medications you need to take before the procedure. Here are the general guidelines are given before a coronary angiography procedure:

  • Do not consume anything from the night before the procedure
  • Carry all your medications with you to the hospital in the original packing and ask your doctor if you need to take your usual morning medications
  • If you have diabetes, ask your doctor if you should take insulin or other oral anti-diabetic medications before the procedure

Before the procedure

Before starting the angiography procedure, the healthcare team will carefully review your medical history and check all the medications you usually take. Then a physical examination will be done to check your vital signs like pulse and blood pressure. You will be asked about your medical history, including if you have a past history of any kind of allergies. You will be asked to evacuate your bladder and change into a hospital gown. Any contact lenses, jewellery, and hairpins, if on, need to be removed.

During the procedure

  • You are directed to lie on your back on an X-ray table. Safety straps may be fastened across your chest and legs because the table may be tilted during the procedure. X-ray cameras will rotate over and around your head and chest to collect images from different angles.
  • An IV access is established into a vein in your arm. A sedative may be given through the IV line to help you relax along with other medications and fluids. You may feel very sleepy during the procedure, but you will still be able to wake up to follow any instructions if needed.
  • Number of electrodes will be placed on your chest to monitor your heart during the procedure. Also, a blood pressure cough and a pulse oximeter will be kept in place to track your blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation levels during the procedure.
  • A small area of your groin or arm will be shaved where a flexible tube or catheter will be introduced. The area will then be washed and disinfected with an antiseptic solution, followed by an injection of local anaesthetic.
  • The skin is incised at the entry site from where a short plastic tube or sheath is introduced into your artery. The catheter is introduced via the sheath into your blood vessel and then cautiously threaded to your heart or coronary arteries. Threading the catheter is not painful, and you will not feel it moving through your body. If you notice any discomfort during the procedure, do not hesitate to share it with your healthcare team.
  • The contrast is then injected via the catheter into your coronary arteries. You may have felt a brief sensation of warmth when this happens. The dye is easily visible on the X-ray images, and as it flows through your blood vessels, any blockages or constricted areas can be identified. If needed, you may have additional catheter procedures in the same setting, such as balloon angioplasty or stent placement to dilate a narrowed artery.
  • The procedure usually takes about an hour. In certain cases, however, it might take longer, especially if additional procedures need to be done in the same sitting. Preparation for the procedure and post-procedure care can prolong the duration of the procedure.

After the procedure

After the procedure is over, the catheter is removed, and the incision is closed with manual pressure or a clamp. Then, you will be shifted to the recovery room and kept under close observation. After your condition is stable, you will be shifted to your own room, where you will be monitored regularly. An overnight stay at the hospital is needed for monitoring or you might be allowed to go home the same day. It would help if you consumed plenty of fluids to flush out the dye from your system when you are allowed to. Ask your healthcare team about any special diet you need to follow for a while and when to resume medications and normal activities. Please avoid physical activity for a few days after the procedure. The incision site might remain tender for a few days with a slightly visible bruising and a small bump.

See your doctor immediately if:

  • You observe bleeding, a new bruise or swelling at the catheter site
  • You experience increasing pain or discomfort at the catheter site
  • You notice signs of infection, such as redness or fever
  • Increase or decrease in temperature or colour in the part where the procedure was performed
  • Weakness or numbness in the area where the catheter was inserted
  • Pain in the chest or difficulty breathing

The angiography report helps the doctor determine what is with your blood vessels. It can:

  • Reveal how many of your coronary arteries are restricted or narrowed by fatty plaques, a condition called atherosclerosis
  • Located the areas of blockages in your blood vessels
  • Reveal how much blood flow is blocked through your blood vessels
  • Evaluate the results of previous coronary bypass surgery
  • Evaluate the blood flow through your heart and blood vessels

This information helps your doctor to determine the best treatment plan suited to your condition and assess how much danger your heart condition poses to your overall health. Based on the results of the report, your doctor may decide if you would benefit from additional procedures, like having coronary angioplasty or stenting to help open up clogged arteries.

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is the best coronary angiography hospital in Navi Mumbai. When it comes to cardiac care, experience matters. Our hospital combines the expertise of the best Cardiac Specialists in Navi Mumbai with world-class facilities and infrastructure to provide advanced cardiac care for all ages, aligned with the national and international healthcare standards. We are committed to delivering quality comprehensive medical care and excellent patient service.