Coronary Angiogram / Angioplasty

Coronary angiography is an important test, usually used when your doctor suspects, knows, or definitively needs to rule out that you have coronary artery disease. Coronary angiography is when special types of real-time X-rays of your coronary arteries are taken. It shows your cardiologist if these arteries are narrowed or blocked.

Why do people need coronary angiography?

Your cardiologist may recommend that you undergo a coronary angiogram:

if you have chest pain that your doctor suspects is caused by narrowed coronary arteries

if your cardiologist wants to assess the degree of narrowing in your coronary arteries to see if you could benefit from angioplasty or bypass surgery, to relieve your symptoms and reduce your risk of further heart problems

if you have had a documented heart attack – or you have continuing chest pain, or the results of an exercise test indicate the need for further investigation, your doctor will need detailed information about your heart and arteries

as part of an overall work-up for a heart operation which may or may not involve concomitant by-pass surgery if your arteries are co-incidentally found to be narrowed (ie for heart valve surgery, it is always important to do an angiogram first)

Before your coronary angiogram, your cardiologist will discuss all the potential risks weighed up against the possible benefits. He or she will answer any questions that you or your family may have.

If you agree to have the procedure after discussing this with your cardiologist, you will be required to sign a consent form, which will be done either in the consulting rooms or in the recovery room just prior to your procedure.