iCARDIOLOGY

Angiogram is the picture of an artery taken using x-ray after contrast with iodine injected into the blood vessel.  There are 4 different types of angiogram and they are:

1. Coronary Angiogram: Also called cardiac cath.  The procedure is done under light sedation with local anaesthesia injected in the groin area. Blood vessel in the groin area (femoral artery) is then accessed using a needle through which a wire followed by a tube (sheath) is inserted. There is no cutting involved. Through the sheath, another tube (catheter) is threaded to the blood vessels of the heart (coronaries). Images are then obtained using contrast under x-ray vision. Stents are implanted if blockages are identified. Depending on the site and type of blockages occasionally open heart surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting) is recommended.  Usual indications are angina or heart attack.

2. Lower Extremity Angiogram: Like coronary angiogram images of the leg arteries are obtained and endovascular therapy is decided depending on the type and location of the blockage.  Indications are leg pain with walking or non-healing ulcers of the legs.

3. Renal Angiogram: It is the x-ray image of the kidney arteries. Done usually to assess blockage of the kidney arteries in patients with medication resistant hypertension.

4.Carotid Angiogram: X-ray images of the carotid arteries (blood vessels supplying face and brain) are obtained.  Done usually in patients who have high grade blockage identified on a carotid artery ultrasound, MRA or CT angiogram.