Angiography - Treatment, Procedure And Side Effects

An angiography, also known as an angiogram, is an X-Ray test that makes use of a dye along with a camera in order to take clear pictures of the circulation of blood inside a vein or an artery. This procedure can be performed for the veins or the arteries of the chest, back, arms, head, belly and the legs.

The most common angiograms include pulmonary angiogram (of the chest), coronary angiogram (of the heart), cerebral angiogram (of the brain), carotid angiogram (of the neck and the head), peripheral angiogram (of the arms and legs) and aortogram (of the aorta).

An angiogram is used to detect aneurysms (bulge within the blood vessels). Any blockage or narrowing of the blood vessels that affect proper blood flow can also be detected by this procedure. The possibility of a coronary artery disorder being present, as well as its condition, can be determined by this technique.

An angiogram or angiography is recommended in the following scenarios:

• Coronary artery disorder symptoms show up, such as angina (chest pain)
• Unexplained pain in the arms, neck or the jaws
• Unstable angina (chest pain that has suddenly started or is increasing with time)
• Congenital heart conditions
• Chest injury or other conditions related to the blood vessels
• A problem of the valves of the heart that warrants surgery

No non-eligibility criterion as such, however:

• Since the procedure does entail its share of risks, usually, the doctor will ask you wait before deciding on an angiogram if other non-invasive testing procedures haven’t been performed or haven’t come up with their results. Such tests include an echocardiogram, stress test or an ECG.

Similar to any other procedure performed on the blood vessels and the heart, a coronary angiogram or other angiograms as well have their share of risks and complications. Though major risks are less, certain potential complications include:

• Stroke
• Heart attacks
• Any injury to the arteries, especially the artery that has been catheterized
• Arrhythmias (irregular heart-beats)
• Allergies caused due to the dye or other medications used during the procedure
• Damage to the kidneys
• Persistent bleeding
• Infections

Keeping the patient under observation to monitor the person’s temperature, blood pressure, feeling of nausea and most importantly the proper functioning of the body.

You should take adequate rest and avoid any sort of strenuous activity for 24 hours post-angiogram, following which you can start with your daily routine. However, if your doctor has advised otherwise, you should follow it to recover completely and quickly.

The price of an angiography or an angiogram in India typically ranges between Rs.6000- Rs.55,000.

An angiography is a testing procedure that makes use of a dye along with a camera to check for defects in the arteries or the veins. It isn’t a surgical procedure. It only lays down the platform for angioplasty which, in turn, is the surgery that is performed. Hence, there are no results as such associated with angiography.

An angiogram or angiography is usually recommended by the doctor only if other less invasive testing techniques have been exhausted or haven’t been able to come up with concrete results. Certain less invasive alternatives include a heart stress test, ECG (Electrocardiography) and echocardiography.