CT Coronary Angiography
What is it?
Computed Tomography (CT) Coronary Angiography is a non-invasive scan of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart. The coronary arteries and heart chambers are visualised through the injection of a contrast medium during the scan. Unlike a traditional coronary angiogram, CT angiograms don't use a catheter threaded through your blood vessels to your heart. Instead, a coronary CT angiogram relies on a powerful X-ray machine to produce images of your heart and blood vessels. Coronary CT angiograms are becoming a widely used modality for people with a variety of heart conditions.
Computed Tomography (CT) Coronary Angiography is a non-invasive scan of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart. The coronary arteries and heart chambers are visualised through the injection of a contrast medium during the scan. Unlike a traditional coronary angiogram, CT angiograms don't use a catheter threaded through your blood vessels to your heart. Instead, a coronary CT angiogram relies on a powerful X-ray machine to produce images of your heart and blood vessels. Coronary CT angiograms are becoming a widely used modality for people with a variety of heart conditions.
Why it’s done
A CT Coronary Angiogram is a test that can check your heart for various conditions, but it's primarily used to check for narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) that could explain chest pain (angina) or could put you at risk of a heart attack. Coronary CT Angiograms are sometimes used in place of traditional coronary angiograms to check for coronary artery disease in patients who are at a moderate risk of coronary artery disease. What to expect
Because your heart's constantly in motion while it beats, your Cardiologist may give you a medication called a beta blocker which will slow your heart rate and enable the doctor to see your heart arteries more clearly. A technician will insert an intravenous (IV) line in your hand or arm to inject the dye that will make your heart's arteries visible on the images taken by the CT scanner. While the actual scanning portion of the test takes less than 20 seconds, it may take up to an hour for the beta blocker to slow your heart rate sufficiently before the CT angiogram begins. After your CT angiogram is completed patients can return to their normal daily activities. |