Know What Is A Cardiac Angiography

Cardiac angiography is an examination procedure performed to detect medical disorders that occur in the heart's blood vessels. This procedure is one of the most common types of cardiac catheterization procedures. .

Cardiac angiography or more accurately coronary angiography is done using a radiographic X-ray machine and contrast fluid injected into a coronary vein at the heart through the arm or groin. This procedure is capable of producing a series of images that can indicate the location, severity, and number of coronary arteries that are blocked in coronary heart disease.

Know What Is A Cardiac Angiography

Cardiac Angiography Indication

Cardiac angiography is a part of generalized cardiac catheterization when a patient has the following conditions:

  • Chest pain (angina).
  • Pain in the jaw, neck, or arm that can not be explained by another examination.
  • Cardiac stress test results (abnormal treadmill test)
  • Birth defects or have congenital heart disease.
  • Heart valve disorders that require surgery.
  • Vascular disorders or chest injuries.
  • Heart failure.
  • Diagnosed heart attack.

Because cardiac angiography has a risk of complications, this check is usually not done until other non-invasive heart tests have been performed, such as electrocardiography, echocardiography or a treadmill test.

Warning:

  • Be careful and notify your doctor if you have or have had an allergic reaction to contrast fluids, iodine, latex, or any other substance contained in the anesthetic.
  • Tell your doctor if you are taking any medications, supplements, or herbal products, especially blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin. The doctor will advise the patient to discontinue use of the drug 2-3 days before the procedure is done. This is done to prevent the risk of severe bleeding in the catheter placement area.
  • Let your doctor know if you have a history of clotting disorders.
  • Tell your doctor if you have kidney function disorder. The use of contrast fluids during cardiac angiography is at risk of damaging the kidney organs, especially in patients with weak kidney function.
  • Tell your doctor if you are using a heart implant device, such as a pacemaker.
  • Be careful and tell your doctor if you have diabetes. Ask your doctor when it is appropriate to use insulin or other diabetes medications, such as metformin, before undergoing cardiac angiography.
  • Let your doctor know when you're pregnant.

Before Cardiac Angiography

The doctor will explain to the patient about the cardiac angiography procedure to be followed. Then, the patient will be given an consent form to sign as a statement that the patient has understood the procedure and the risk of possible complications.

Next, the patient will go through the medical examination stage. The doctor will check the patient's medical history, including history of allergies and drugs being consumed. The doctor will also perform a physical examination and vital signs, including blood pressure and pulse.

The doctor will also instruct the patient to perform some investigations, such as blood tests, chest X-rays, and electrocardiography (EKG). This is done to ensure the patient's body is ready to undergo cardiac angiography procedures.

In addition, there are several other things that patients need to do before undergoing cardiac angiography procedures, including:

  • Fasting for approximately 8 hours.
  • Shave the area around the groin.
  • Invite family members or colleagues to accompany patients before and after the procedure, and to deliver patients home.
  • Remove all jewelry, glasses, and contact lenses before undergoing an inspection procedure.
  • The doctor or nurse will insert the IV tube into the blood vessel in the patient's arm.

Cardiac Angiography Procedure

Cardiac angiography is performed in a cardiac catheter-only room equipped with multiple monitor screens. This procedure uses local anesthetics and tranquilizers given by injection. Here are the steps of cardiac angiography procedures, namely:

  • The patient will be laid on his back on the examination table equipped with X-ray.
  • The doctor or nurse will install electrodes on the chest of the patient connected to the monitor to monitor electrical activity in the patient's heart. Blood pressure measuring devices and oxygen counts in the blood (oximeter) will also be installed in the patient's body.
  • The doctor or nurse begins to give the sedative through the IV line so the patient will be drowsy during the procedure.
  • The heart doctor will clean and sterilize the area where the catheter will be inserted, then make the area numb by injecting a local anesthetic.
  • A small incision on the skin will be made to insert a long, flexible tube into the artery.
  • The catheter will be inserted through the flexible hose and directed slowly toward the heart arteries. The patient will feel slight pressure on the incision when the catheter is inserted.
  • The doctor will inject the contrast fluid through the catheter into the arteries and heart chambers. This fluid will show the condition of blood vessels, heart valves, and heart chambers in detail. The patient will feel the heat for several seconds after the contrast fluid is injected.
  • The X-ray machine quickly picks up a series of images from the patient's heart condition. The doctor will instruct the patient to hold his breath when the X-ray is done

After cardiac angiography is complete, the doctor will remove the catheter from the patient's arm or groin, and close the incision with stitches and bandages. The doctor or nurse will put pressure on the incision to make sure there is no bleeding.

After Cardiac Angiography

Next, the patient will be taken to the recovery room for the observation. After the doctor confirms the patient's condition is stable, the patient will be taken to the treatment room and undergo regular checkup.

If the catheter is inserted through the groin, the patient is advised to lie on the supine position and straight leg position for 2-6 hours to prevent bleeding. During lying down, the head position of the patient should not be too high because it can cause pressure on the abdomen and groin. The patient should not sit or stand until the doctor allows it.

If a catheter is inserted through the arm, then the patient does not have to lie on his back. The patient will only go through the observation process for several hours to ensure the patient's condition is stable.

Patients are encouraged to consume plenty of fluids to secrete contrast fluids in the body through the urine. Doctors will also provide pain medication to relieve discomfort in the incision area.

After the patient undergoes a recovery process, the doctor may allow the patient to go home or advise the patient to undergo one night's hospitalization. Patients should be accompanied by colleagues or family members when returning home because of the effects of drugs and sedatives does not allow patients to drive alone

During your home recovery period, make sure someone is accompanying the patient for at least 24 hours. This is done because the patient will feel dizzy or have mild headaches after undergoing cardiac angiography. In addition, the doctor will encourage the patient to do the following:

  • Expand rest and consume fluids.
  • Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
  • Avoid driving or operating the machine, at least 24 hours after the procedure.
  • Replace bandages after 24 hours.
  • Keep the bandage slightly wet for at least 3 days.
  • Do not apply the lotion near the incision area, at least for 3 days after the procedure.
  • Conduct an examination of conditions and injuries a week after undergoing a procedure

Heart Angiography Results

A heart angiography examination can give two results, namely:

  • Normal - if supply and blood flow along the heart arteries are not found in the blockage.
  • Abnormal - if a blockage is found in the heart artery

Based on the results of cardiac angiography, doctors can diagnose heart problems experienced by patients and determine treatment therapy appropriate to the patient's condition. Some types of treatment therapies that can be done, among others:

  • Drugs. If cardiac angiography results in a patient having coronary heart disease, the doctor will administer medications to relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of heart attack, such as aspirin, cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blocking drugs ( beta blockers), calcium antagonists.
  • Coronary angioplasty and ring installation. Procedures are performed to increase blood flow to the heart by using special balloons, thereby opening arteries that are blocked. Angioplasty is often accompanied by the installation of ring to keep the artery open.
  • Surgery bypass heart . Surgical procedure performed to create a new blood stream by taking healthy blood vessels taken from other parts of the patient's body to change the flow blocked heart arteries.

Heart Angiography Risk

Cardiac angiography is a safe examination procedure. However, this procedure still has some risks that may occur. The following are some potential risks and complications that may occur, although rarely, include:

  • Allergic reactions to contrast fluids or medications used during the procedure.
  • Infection.
  • Bleeding.
  • Heart attack.
  • Stroke.
  • Arrhythmia.
  • Kidney damage.
  • Heart tamponade.
  • Injuries to the heart arteries.

Call your doctor immediately for emergency treatment if you have any of the following conditions:

  • Fever or shivering.
  • Pain, redness, swelling, or bleeding in the incision area.
  • Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs.
  • Pain or pressure on the chest.
  • Nausea and vomiting.

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