Coronary angiography is done when a patient experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, or abnormal results from other heart tests.
The goal is to see if the coronary arteries are blocked or narrowed, which could lead to a heart attack.
A thin tube (catheter) is inserted through the wrist or groin and threaded to the heart.
Then, a contrast dye is injected to make the blood flow visible on X-ray.
The images show how well blood is reaching the heart muscle.
Doctors use these results to determine if angioplasty, stenting, or surgery is needed.
It’s considered the gold standard for diagnosing coronary artery disease.
The procedure is quick, highly accurate, and usually done under local anesthesia.
Patients are monitored for a few hours and can often go home the same day.
It plays a critical role in preventing future heart complications.