What does cardiac angiography mean?

Cardiac angiography, also known as coronary angiography or cardiac vascular angiography, is a specialized medical imaging technique. This technique is primarily used to evaluate narrowing, blockages, or other abnormalities in the heart's blood vessels, especially the coronary arteries. Cardiac angiography involves the following procedures:

1. Catheter insertion: Under the guidance of X-ray or digital subtraction angiography (DSA), a long, thin catheter is inserted into the patient's femoral artery in the thigh or radial artery in the wrist and then advanced along the blood vessels to the opening of the coronary arteries in the heart.

2. Contrast agent injection: A contrast agent is injected through a small opening at the tip of the catheter into the aorta. This contrast agent is visible under X-ray imaging.

3. X-ray imaging: As the contrast agent flows through the blood vessels, X-ray equipment captures and records the movement, thereby displaying the shape and structure of the vessels and the heart on a monitor.

All medical procedures carry some risks, including bleeding, infection, and allergic reactions to the contrast agent. If you have any concerns, it is recommended to consult your doctor in detail before undergoing cardiac angiography.