Frequently Asked Questions

What is Angiography?

The medical procedure used to check for the blockages in the blood vessels is angiography and the report is called an angiogram. The procedure is performed in individuals suffering from certain health conditions like cerebral, peripheral, and cardiovascular diseases. The Blood supply for the target organs is checked by injecting contrast dye by inserting a catheter through the veins and taking images with the help of X-rays. The images will help the doctor to provide an efficient treatment plan for the illness.

Types of Angiography:

1. Coronary Angiography
2. Eye Angiography
3. Magnetic Resonance Angiography
4. Digital Subtraction Angiography
5. Pulmonary Angiography
6. Renal Angiography
7. Radionuclide Angiography
8. Cerebral Angiography
9. Right or left heart ventriculography
10. Aortic Angiography

What are the advantages of Angiography?

1. It provides accurate images of the internal blood vessels and arteries.
2. It identifies any blockages in the blood vessels
3. It helps in determining the right treatment for a particular disease or condition
4. It helps in diagnosing specific diseases

What are the indications of Angiography?

Angiography is indicated in the following conditions:

1. Trauma
2. Renovascular disease
3. Maintenance angioplasty
4. Elective embolization
5. Coil embolization
6. Central vascular disease
7. Cerebrovascular disease
8. Mesenteric angina
9. Peripheral vascular disease
10. Transarterial cancer therapy

What is the preparation for Angiography?

1. You may be asked about your present and past medical and medications history.
2. Inform your doctor if you are using any blood thinners or pain killers.
3. Some type of angiograms may require fasting and some don't. So, your doctor will tell you whether to fast or not.
4. You may be advised to drink only clear liquids for the breakfast on the day of the procedure.
5. You may be advised to stop eating or drinking before 6 hours of the procedure.
6. Inform your doctor if you are allergic to anesthesia or to any known contrast dye.
7. Discuss all the risks, complications, and benefits associated with the Angiography with your doctor.
8. You will be asked to sign the consent form before undergoing this procedure.

What are the steps involved in Angiography?

Steps involved in Angiography differ from one type to another type. However, the general steps involved in angiogram are:

1. You will be asked to change clothes to the hospital gown.
2. You may be either sedated or not with anesthesia.
3. After sedation, a catheter or a small tube is inserted into the large artery.
4. Now, the catheter is slowly directed throughout the artery until the tip reaches the vessel that needed to be examined.
5. Then, a contrast dye is injected into the blood vessel through the catheter. This dye will help the blood vessels to view on the X-ray images.
6. X-rays of the blood vessels will be taken.
7. Later the catheter will be removed from the large artery.
8. Your doctor will review the X-ray images to determine the problem.

What is the postprocedure care/recovery care for Angiography?

1. After the completion of the procedure, you may need to stay in the hospital until the sedative wears off.
2. Then, your doctor will provide some instructions regarding post-procedure care.
3. If there is a pain at the site of catheter insertion, then consult your doctor.
4. Use the pain killers as directed by your doctor if the pain is severe.
5. If bleeding is seen at the cut, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
6. There may be some complications and risks after the procedure. So, follow all the instructions and directions provided by your doctor.

Who can perform Angiography [Right specialist type for Angiography]?

Angiography can be performed by:

1. Experienced Cardiologist
2. Vascular surgeon who has experience in performing a successful angiography
3. Any surgeon who performed several successful Angiographies

What is the cost of Angiography?

Cost of Angiography depends on factors such as:

1. Type of hospital
2. The severity of the blockage of blood vessels
3. Admission fee
4. Post-surgical complications that are involved
5. Area of the blood vessels to be evaluated
6. Doctor fee
7. The admission room that you opted for
8. The medical condition of the patient
9. Age of the patient

The minimum cost in Hyderabad starts at Rs.9,000

An average cost in Hyderabad is approximately Rs.20,000

The maximum cost in Hyderabad is up to Rs.40,000

Is Angiography a major procedure or minor procedure?

Depending on the patient's medical condition, the procedure can be either major or minor procedure.

What is the eligibility criteria for Angiography?

Angiography is recommended to people like:

1. Individuals who are suffering from heart diseases.
2. People with severe atherosclerosis.
3. Individuals suffering from arthritis.
4. Patients who are suffering from severe chest pain.
5. Individuals who are willing to check their heart condition after a heart attack.

What is the ineligibility criteria for Angiography?

Angiography is not recommended to individuals like:

1.  Individuals with recent heart surgery.
2. Individuals already diagnosed with heart disease and chest pain.
3. Individuals with severe kidney disease.

What are the risks and complications associated with Angiography?

Few risks and complications associated with the Angiography are:

1. Injury to the artery where the catheter is inserted
2. Bleeding and infection
3. Kidney damage
4. Irregular heartbeat, heart attack, or stroke
5. Allergic reaction to the contrast dye

How long does it take to complete Angiography?

Angiography can take 30 minutes to 1 hour to complete the procedure. Depending on the condition of the patient, it may take more than the usual time.

What is the recovery time?

Individuals recover from angiography in about 3-6 hours after the removal of the catheter from the blood vessels and would be discharged from the hospital on the same day of the procedure.

What is the success rate of Angiography?

The success rate of Angiography is 97 % and can depend on factors like:

1.  Age of the patient
2. Experience of the doctor in performing Angiography
3. The medical condition of an individual

Is Angiography painful?

Every procedure comes with a certain level of pain or discomfort. You won't be experiencing pain during this process as anesthesia will be given by the doctor before the insertion of the catheter.

Is Angiography Permanent?

Angiography is not a permanent procedure as the catheter tube is withdrawn from the body after evaluating the blood vessels.

What are the long-term results of Angiography?

Angiography is an evaluation procedure and is useful for the doctor to provide long-term treatment plans for the patient after diagnosis.

Can Angiography be detected in the future?

Angiography cannot be detected in the future as the contrast dye is more likely to be excreted by the body in 30 minutes to 2 hours.

What are the options if Angiography fails or not successful?

If Angiography fails, then the doctor may suggest alternative techniques for Angiography.

What are the alternatives for Angiography?

Alternative techniques for Angiograms/Angiographies are:

1. CT-scan
2. MRI-scan
3. Doppler ultrasound