A coronary angiography or coronary angiogram is a procedure that deep dives into your coronary arteries to check if they are narrowed or blocked with the help of an X-ray dye. 

Why Do You Need a Coronary Angiogram? 

Our best heart specialist in Gujrat may recommend a coronary angiogram if you are suspected to have coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease occurs when arteries supplying blood to your heart are laden with fatty substances or plaque. This accumulation causes your arteries to become hard and narrow which leads to less blood supply to your heart.  

Apart from this, the procedure may also be recommended to investigate other heart problems including heart valve disease. 

Are There Any Risks with Coronary Angiography? 

The procedure is comparatively safe with fewer associated risks. The most common risk includes a little bruising or swelling at the puncture site. 

Uncommon risks include: 

• Bleeding 

• Abnormal heart rhythms 

• Allergic reaction to the X-ray dye 

• Heart attack or stroke 

• Infection 

• Reduced kidney function 

• Injury to the artery 

What Happens During a Coronary Angiography? 

Coronary angiography takes place in a cardiac operating theatre. The procedure is simple and takes less than an hour. During the procedure, our doctor will: 

• Give you a local anaesthetic to numb your wrist or groin region. 

• Gently insert a catheter into your artery from the wrist or groin and move it inside the artery reaching up to your heart. 

• Inject a dye into your arteries. 

• Take x-rays as the dye travels through the blood vessels to check the narrowing or blockage of arteries. 

• Remove the catheter and apply gentle pressure on the site where it was inserted. 

What Happens After a Coronary Angiography? 

After your coronary angiography, our nurse will apply a dressing to the punctured area, and you will be moved to a recovery room. You may observe some tenderness, soreness, or bruising in the area. This would, however, be transient and will go away after two weeks. Based on the results from your coronary angiography, our doctors will discuss further treatment procedures with you. 

Coronary angioplasty and stenting are cardiac procedures that open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. 

What are Coronary Angioplasty and Stenting? 

Angioplasty and stenting are two procedures that open narrow or blocked coronary arteries.  

During an angioplasty, our doctor will widen your blocked artery with a balloon. On the other hand, the artery would be widened with a wire mesh or stent during stenting. 

Why Do You Need Angioplasty and Stenting? 

Our doctors may recommend angioplasty and stenting to: 

• Identify blockages visible in your coronary angiography. 

• Diagnose and treat coronary artery disease. 

• Reduce the amount of heart muscle damage if you have had a heart attack previously. 

What are the Risks of Angioplasty and Stenting? 

Angioplasty and stenting are comparatively safer and do not have many risks. The common risks include: 

• Allergy to the dye. 

• Bleeding or bruising in the area where a catheter is inserted. 

• Re-narrowing of your artery. 

• Blood clot inside the stent. 

What Happens During Angioplasty and Stenting? 

 The procedure is simple and takes less than an hour. During the procedure, our doctor will: 

• Give you a local anaesthetic to numb your wrist or groin. 

• Gently insert a guide wire into an artery through the wrist or groin which is moved inside the artery till your heart. 

• Inject a dye into the coronary arteries. 

• Take an X-ray to check the narrowing of the coronary artery. 

• Push a catheter with a tiny balloon on the end over the guide wire. 

• Inflate and deflate the balloon several times at the location of the blockage. 

• Put a stent and a tiny balloon to expand the mesh and keep the artery open. 

• Deflate the balloon and remove the catheter. 

What Happens After Angioplasty and Stenting? 

After your angioplasty and stenting, you will be moved to a recovery area. You may observe a little tenderness or soreness at the puncture site. This would, however, be transient and go away after two weeks.