How is cardiac angiography performed?

Coronary angiography is a diagnostic procedure for heart disease. It involves accessing the arterial system—typically via the radial or femoral artery—by making a small puncture. A catheter is then advanced through this puncture site, traversing the radial, brachial, or subclavian arteries to reach the heart and ultimately the ostia of the coronary arteries. Contrast dye is injected separately into the left and right coronary ostia, enabling visualization of the entire coronary arterial tree to detect any stenosis or occlusion—and to determine its location and severity. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) is established, the extent of myocardial damage is assessed, and appropriate treatment strategies are formulated. This procedure accurately identifies conditions such as coronary atherosclerosis, stenosis, and vascular occlusion, and remains the gold standard for evaluating the degree of coronary artery narrowing and atherosclerotic burden.