Coronary Angiography

Coronary angiography is an X-ray procedure used to examine the coronary arteries – the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart muscle. Coronary angiography is done using a technique called cardiac catheterization. This involves using a thin, flexible tube (a catheter) to reach your heart’s blood vessels. As well as showing what your coronary arteries look like, this procedure can also be used to measure blood pressure within the chambers of your heart, and to check the functioning of your heart valves. Coronary angiography is a common procedure that rarely causes serious problems. Possible complications may include bleeding, allergic reactions to the contrast dye, infection, blood vessel damage, arrhythmias, blood clots that can trigger a heart attack or stroke, kidney damage, and fluid buildup around the heart.