Coronary artery, Coronary angiography

Chest | Cardiology | Coronary artery, Coronary angiography (Disease)


Description

Coronary heart or Coronary artery is a common term for the buildup of plaque in the heart’s arteries that could lead to heart attack.

Coronary angiography is the most accurate method (also known as the gold standard) for evaluating and defining coronary artery disease (CAD). Coronary angiography is a technique used to identify the exact location and severity of CAD.

Causes and Risk factors

With coronary artery disease, plaque first grows in the coronary arteries until the blood flow to the heart’s muscle is limited. This is also called ischemia. It may be chronic, caused by narrowing of the coronary artery and limitation of the blood supply to part of the muscle.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Coronary angiography is usually done together with cardiac catheterization.

Coronary angiography is performed with the use of local anesthesia and intravenous sedation, and is generally not terribly uncomfortable. The procedure takes approximately 20-30 minutes. After the procedure, the catheter is removed and the artery in the leg or arm is sutured, sealed, or treated with manual compression to prevent bleeding. There is a small risk of serious complications from coronary angiography, as it is an invasive test, but in the hands of an experienced physician, this risk is quite small. ...