Angiography

Coronary angiography is often done along with cardiac catheterization. This is a procedure which measures pressures in the heart chambers.

Before the test starts, you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax. An area of your body (the arm or groin) is cleaned and numbed with a local numbing medicine (anesthetic). The cardiologist passes a thin hollow tube, called a catheter, through an artery and carefully moves it up into the heart. X-ray images help the doctor position the catheter.

Once the catheter is in place, dye (contrast material) is injected into the catheter. X-ray images are taken to see how the dye moves through the artery. The dye helps highlight any blockages in blood flow.