What is CT Angiography?
A test to examine blood vessels and tissues is called a computed tomography (CT) angiogram. During the test, your doctor injects a dye that highlights the tissues and blood vessels. Your doctor then uses a CT scan, a type of special X-ray, to see the highlighted areas.
What is a CT coronary angiogram?
To examine your coronary arteries, your doctor will perform a CT angiogram. The blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle are called coronary arteries.
Who performs a CT angiogram?
This test is usually performed by a radiologist. A radiologist is a medical professional who specializes in performing and analyzing imaging scans. A radiologist with expertise in cardiovascular imaging performs a CT coronary angiogram.
Why do I need a CT angiogram?
The most common reason for a CT angiogram is to check for narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries. However, a CT angiography can be used by your doctor to identify any blood vessel-related disease, such as:
- Your blood arteries may enlarge, develop abnormal bulges, or develop aneurysms.
- Fatty plaques called atherosclerosis develop inside blood vessels.
- Heart artery disease
- Embolism in the lung
How does a CT angiography vary from a traditional angiogram (cardiac catheterization)?
Both CT and traditional angiograms are diagnostic procedures used to see your blood arteries. CT angiograms require less incision as compared to traditional angiograms.
A long, hollow tube called a catheter is inserted by your doctor during a standard angiography procedure. This tube is often inserted through an artery in your wrist or groin. Next, your doctor will use X-rays to scan your coronary arteries (blood vessels) and inject a dye through the catheter.
During a CT angiogram, your doctor will give you the dye intravenously (intravenously), usually in a vein in your arm or hand.
How is a CT coronary angiogram different from a CT scan of the heart?
Certain X-rays are used in CT coronary angiograms and CT heart scans to visualize within the body. Since a contrast material injection is used for CT coronary angiography, it is a little more intrusive. Injecting dye is not necessary for cardiac CT scans.
How should I get ready for a CT scan?
You will receive detailed instructions from your healthcare practitioner on how to get ready for a CT angiography. A few drugs, like vasodilators (Letra®, Viagra®), may need you to temporarily cease using them before the test.
You will usually cease eating four hours before to the exam. Water may be consumed as normal.
Caffeine must be avoided for twelve hours before to a coronary CT angiography test. Caffeine might speed up your heartbeat and make it more challenging to see your coronary arteries clearly.
What I can expect before, during & after the CT angiography?
A CT coronary angiography is often performed in an outpatient imaging center or the radiology department of a hospital.
Before the CT angiography-
A doctor may prescribe a beta blocker medication to you before a CT coronary angiography. Your heart rate will be slowed down to improve the image quality of the CT scanner. Tell your doctor if you have ever had side effects from beta-blockers.
To enlarge your coronary arteries and make them easier for your doctor to notice in the pictures, you can also be prescribed nitroglycerin.
During the CT angiography-
A technician will give you an IV into your hand or arm and give you a numbing medication. A contrast dye is injected into the IV.
The technician applies sticky patches, or electrodes, to your chest in order to perform a coronary CT angiography. The electrodes are attached to a device that records the rhythm and heart rate.
They lie on a table that slides into the CT scanner, a ring-shaped machine.
A technician uses the CT scanner in another room to take pictures from different perspectives. Your doctor may ask you to hold your breath for a moment if you want to stop your chest moving during the scan.
The actual CT scan can just take a few minutes or a few seconds. The process usually takes one hour, including setup.
After the CT angiography-
The same day after the CT angiogram, you can go back home and carry on with your regular activities. Your doctor may recommend that you drink plenty of water to help remove the contrast dye from your body.
Who shouldn’t get a CT angiogram?
If you have any of the following conditions: diabetes or kidney disease, there is a small chance that the contrast dye can damage your kidneys. A separate test may be recommended by your doctor if you have any of these problems.
Inform your doctor if you are or suspect that you could be pregnant. While there is little radiation risk associated with CT angiograms, physicians typically advise against doing these on pregnant patients.
When can I expect my results?
For a few days to a few weeks at most, your doctor won't be able to share your test results with you. The results may necessitate additional testing. On the other hand, should the tests indicate that your risk of heart disease is higher than typical; your doctor may discuss your treatment choices with you.
Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for CT angiography?
Tender Palm Hospital, owned by doctors, is renowned for attracting the most skilled professionals in the country. With the finest cardiologist doctors and surgeons specialized in CT angiography. Tender Palm stands out as the premier Cardiology hospital in Lucknow, India. Boasting cutting-edge infrastructure and advanced technology, Tender Palm ensures top-notch medical care for its patients.
To seek an expert consultation for any Cardiology condition
Call us at +91-9076972161 II 0522-3500111
Email at care@tenderpalm.com
Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com
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