CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY
DURING THE PROCEDURE
In order to reach the lesion, the cardiologist who performs the procedure uses catheters which are thin tubes (2 mm in diameter) the size of spaghetti.
These catheters are generally inserted following puncture of the right groin or wrist.
Your groin area is shaved and disinfected and local anesthesia is administered.
Your body is then covered with a sterile sheet that you will be asked not to touch and local anesthesia is administered at the puncture site (wrist or groin).
After administration of the local anesthetic, your femoral (groin) or radial (wrist) artery is punctured and an introducer is inserted. Thereafter, catheters are engaged through the introducer and advanced up to the heart. Catheter advancement is a completely painless maneuver which is monitored on a screen.
Once the catheter has reached the orifice of the coronary arteries, iodine (a radio-opaque product) is injected in order to allow visualization of the coronary arteries. Towards the end of the procedure, an X-ray of your heart is taken. This may cause a sensation of heat for a few seconds. During the procedure, your physician may ask you to take a deep breath or cough or move your head to one side.
