Complications After Coronary Angiography Procedures

Coronary angiography is a procedure used to image blood vessels. A catheter is inserted into an artery in the arm or groin. Dye is injected into the catheter that will show an image of a vessel on X-ray. The procedure is a diagnostic tool for various coronary conditions such as blockages and narrowing of vessels, arteries and veins that can clump and tangle together, bulging of a vessel (aneurysm), inflammation and tears in the wall of a vessel (dissection).

Procedural Complications

• The procedure can be uncomfortable, causing some patients to move. Movement can cause serious complications such as the catheter compromising the vessel wall and even rupturing it. Patients are given a sedative before the procedure and asked to remain still and report any discomfort. Dye that is injected through the artery can cause an allergic reaction. In rare cases, anaphylactic shock can occur, causing respiratory distress. Kidney damage can occur when the dye is excreted through the urine. Shock and seizures can result. Another complication is cardiac arrest. All medical staff take precautions before starting the procedure. The goal is to avoid any life-threatening complications.

Residual Complications

• Bleeding at the site of entry can occur after the procedure. Arteries carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body which is fueled by the pumping of the heart. The pressure from the blood flowing through the artery can cause clotting to be compromised. Constant pressure on the injection site is necessary to block the bleeding. Bleeding can start again if too much activity takes place after the procedure. Doctors advise patients to rest four hours after the test.

  The radiation dosage is much higher than the amount used in a basic chest X-ray. According to the American Heart Association, low doses of radiation should be used to avoid risks for cardiac patients during angiography. They also recommend that routine tests that use radioactive materials not be used for people who are free of cardiac symptoms.

Considerations

• A cardiologist recommends a cardiac angiography when signs of disease are present. The procedure is not recommended for persons that have no cardiac symptoms. Seek a second opinion in such cases.

  Check with your insurance carrier to assure the procedure will be covered. Preparation for the test is necessary to assure a successful procedure. Follow directions issued by the physician that may include no food or drink as specified in the literature.