Coronary Angiography: Why Have It, and What Advice Afterwards?
What is a coronary angiography?
If you need to assess the state of your blood circulation in the arteries surrounding your heart, your doctor might recommend a diagnostic procedure called coronary angiography. Using advanced radiographic techniques, this procedure will give you a detailed view of your coronary arteries, responsible for delivering blood, oxygen, and nutrients to your heart. To obtain precise, real-time images, your doctor will use a radiopaque contrast agent.
Coronary angiography itself is a minimally invasive procedure. It is performed via a peripheral artery, the most commonly used currently being the radial artery (at the wrist) or the femoral artery (in the thigh).
In non-urgent cases, one night's hospitalization is usually more than sufficient. The trend among doctors is towards performing coronary angiography on an outpatient basis, reserving hospitalization for complex cases.
It is important to note that this procedure is directly linked to a complex coronary pathology, where a simple obstruction is not enough to justify an intervention to restore blood flow. Indeed, the body has defense mechanisms that allow it to create bypasses, called collateral circulations, allowing blood to find its way through alternative channels produced by the body. Coronary angiography is therefore the basis, but if necessary, the doctor must conduct functional studies to determine whether a lesion compromises blood flow or not.
Why have a coronary angiography?
Coronary angiography is usually performed on patients experiencing exercise-induced chest pain or those who have undergone other examinations revealing possible severe artery damage.
This is particularly true when patients have several of the following cardiovascular risk factors:
- Hypertension;
- Diabetes;
- High cholesterol;
- Age over 50;
- Family history of coronary artery disease;
- Acute or sudden pain in the chest or arm (during exertion or at rest).
However, patients experiencing pain at rest, regardless of risk factors, should go to the emergency room immediately, as a serious acute condition, the main manifestation of which is a heart attack, should be suspected. In this case, emergency coronary angiography must be performed to identify the affected artery that needs to be opened immediately. If the patient is having a heart attack, the doctor performs a coronary angiogram as quickly as possible to resolve the problem.
Procedure: What type of anesthesia?
Coronary angiography is most often performed under local anesthesia. Patients usually report no significant pain or discomfort other than that generated by the administration of the local anesthetic (a small prick followed by a burning sensation lasting a few seconds), as the catheters produce no sensation inside the body.
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Duration of the examination
Coronary angiography takes about an hour, and the patient can usually leave the same day after three to six hours of observation. This examination is performed under local anesthesia and can be performed from the groin area, wrist, or arm. It is a procedure that is well-tolerated by the vast majority of patients.
Results
Results can be read as soon as the coronary angiography is performed. When the coronary arteries are healthy, they appear clear, without notches or contrast leakage. Since a diagnosis can be made at the time of the test, it is also possible to perform interventions to resolve the detected problem directly and effectively.
In other cases, a more detailed study is required. This mainly occurs in arrhythmia studies, where minor alterations in the test may be misinterpreted. To ensure a comprehensive consideration of the coronary angiography results, it is preferable that the cardiologist who performed the test carefully studies the data and compares it with that of other tests.
To ensure a complete analysis of the coronary angiography results, it is highly recommended that the cardiologist performing the test carefully study the data and compare it to that of other tests. But it is also necessary that a few days after the coronary angiography, you have a consultation with the cardiologist. They will tell you what the final results of the catheterization were and will give you a diagnosis and long-term treatment (if necessary). They will also check that everything went well and that your progress is favorable.
Post-Coronary Angiography Fatigue: Normal?
Fatigue is common after a coronary angiography. This examination is usually performed under local anesthesia and can be associated with a certain amount of stress. In addition, the body needs time to recover from the procedure and the use of contrast agents. Feeling tired for the first few days following coronary angiography is therefore normal. To recover well, it is crucial to rest and take care of yourself. If fatigue persists or worsens, consult your doctor to investigate other possible causes.
What advice afterwards?
If the doctor inserted the catheter through the groin during the coronary angiography:
- Limit climbing and descending stairs to about twice a day for the first 2 or 3 days;
- For your safety, it is important to follow these recommendations: avoid strenuous activity such as gardening, driving, lifting heavy objects, or sports for at least two days, or until your doctor authorizes you to do so safely;
Advice from your doctor when the catheter is placed in your arm or wrist:
- Do not lift anything heavier than 4.5 kilograms (a little more than a gallon of milk) with the arm where the catheter was located;
- Do not push hard, pull, or twist with that arm;
In all cases, you must:
- For effective recovery, it is important to abstain from any sexual activity for 2 to 5 days. Remember to consult your provider to know the date on which you can resume this activity.
- To ensure rapid healing, it is strongly recommended that you do not take a bath or swim for the first week following the procedure. However, you can shower, taking care not to wet the area where the catheter was inserted for the first 24 to 48 hours.
- Take care of your incision: To ensure proper healing, it is essential to take care of your incision. Your healthcare provider will tell you how often you should change your dressing. Remember to follow their instructions carefully to promote quick and efficient healing.
Can you return to work after a coronary angiography?
After undergoing a coronary angiography, patients must consider several factors before returning to work. Their overall health status and the nature of their work are important factors to consider, as are the instructions given by their attending physician. In general, most patients can resume their normal activities, including work, after a few days of rest and recovery.
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