Angiography

Angiography is a medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to visualize the inside of blood vessels and organs of the body. A coronary angiogram or an arteriogram is an X-ray of the arteries in the heart.
This shows the extent and severity of any heart disease and can help figure out how well the heart is working.
To create the X-ray images, a contrast liquid dye will be injected through a thin, flexible tube, called a catheter.
The catheter is threaded into the desired artery from an access point (usually in your arm).

The dye makes the blood flowing inside the blood vessels visible on an X-ray and shows any narrowed or blocked area in the blood vessel.
The dye is later eliminated from your body through your kidneys and your urine.
Angiograms aren’t usually done until after non-invasive heart tests have been performed (ECG, an echocardiogram or a stress test etc.) due to risk factors.

Minor risks include,
• Injury to the catheterized artery
• Bruising or bleeding at the access point
• Irregular heartbeat
• Chest pain
If a blockage is found, angioplasty (with stent) /percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be performed to open the blockage.