Coronary angiography: When and how? Is it dangerous?

The coronary angiography or heart catheterization as otherwise called, is a diagnostic test performed on individuals who have suspected or certain heart disease…
The coronary angiography is performed to diagnose the exact location and extent of the constrictions or occlusions so that, with proper treatment.
How it’s done
The coronary angiography is performed with local anesthesia. A thin flexible tube (cardiac catheter) enters usually from the femoral artery or vein found in the groin, is promoted and reaches the heart.
In some cases for medical reasons can not be used in the femoral artery and the catheter to be inserted from the brachial artery located at the elbow, or the radial artery located on the wrist.
With the help of X-ray contrast media substance photographed the 3 main coronary arteries. Also measure the pressures in the cavities of the heart and studied the function of the heart muscle and heart valves.
The promotion of the catheter does not hurt, because inside the vessels there are no aesthetic nerves. Proceedings i.e., the coronary angiography is a test painless, other than the small stinging of the local anesthesia.
Is it dangerous?
Many patients are concerned about whether to undergo coronary angiography for fear of the risk. This is a very, very small but not zero (death in less than 0.1%, and of stroke, acute myocardial infarction, or major bleeding under 0,3%), as in every invasive diagnostic practice.
The frequency of complications depends on the experience of the καθετηριαστή, the instability of coronary artery disease (unstable angina or acute myocardial infarction) and the extent of lesions in the vessels.
The coronary angiography is nowadays a very safe examination in experienced hands and specialised centres.
What we need to focus on the patient is that it is a valuable examination and the minimum risk that accompanies it is offset by the fact that direct you to the correct treatment.