Major Reasons To Get A Coronary Angiogram

When Dealing With Angina

Angina is a form of chest pain that results from a reduced amount of blood flow to an individual's heart. This sensation can be described as a heaviness, tightness, pressure, or squeezing pain in the chest. Angina can happen when an individual is exerting themselves, or it may occur when they are at rest. The reduced blood flow to the heart that causes angina is usually the result of coronary artery disease. This type of disease develops when fatty deposits accumulate in an individual's arteries and cause them to become narrowed.

Because angina is a serious symptom indicative of obstruction and narrowing of coronary arteries, a patient's physician may order a coronary angiogram to either confirm or rule out coronary artery disease. A coronary angiogram allows for the viewing of a series of images that depict the flow of blood through the blood vessels inside of a patient's heart through the use of x-rays and a special dye. In some cases, a physician may find and clear out blockages in the coronary arteries during the administration of a coronary angiogram.

After A Chest Injury

An individual may need to undergo a coronary angiogram after a chest injury has occurred. This procedure is administered to identify and detect the presence, location, and severity of any coronary vessel injuries. These types of injuries can occur as a result of the direct impact and also from the deceleration of the heart caused by a chest injury. Common coronary injuries often found through the use of a coronary angiogram include coronary artery dissection or a tear in coronary blood vessels, plaque rupture or separation of a fatty lesion from the arterial wall, and thrombus or blood clot formation.

Common causes of chest injuries that warrant the administration of a coronary angiogram include motor vehicle crashes, vehicle to pedestrian crashes, assault, long falls, and sports-related injuries. The most common area to be affected related to the coronary arteries of the heart is the left front descending artery. Most individuals with significant coronary vessel damage following a chest injury will experience pain and have abnormal levels of cardiac enzymes in their blood.