Key Points

• Coronary angiography is a test that uses dye and special x rays to show the inside of your heart's arteries (the coronary arteries). Coronary angiography can reveal any blocked or narrowed areas in your coronary arteries that might be limiting blood flow to your heart.
• A procedure called cardiac catheterization is used to get the dye into your coronary arteries. Your doctor will put a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in your arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck and thread it through your coronary arteries.
• You may need coronary angiography if you have signs or symptoms of coronary heart disease (also called coronary artery disease). You also may need coronary angiography on an emergency basis if you're having a heart attack. This test, combined with a procedure called angioplasty, can open blocked arteries and prevent further damage to your heart.
• Before having coronary angiography, discuss with your doctor how to prepare for the test and any special instructions you need to follow.
• During coronary angiography, you're kept on your back and awake. That way you can follow your doctor's instructions during the test. You'll be given medicine to help you relax.
• After the test is over, you'll be moved to a special care area, where you'll rest for several hours or overnight. During this time, your movement will be limited to avoid bleeding from the site where the catheter was inserted.
• It may not be safe to drive after the test, so you must arrange for a ride home.
• A small bruise may develop at the site where the catheter inserted. That area may feel sore or tender for about a week. Let your doctor know if you have a lot of bleeding from that area or signs of infection. You may have to avoid doing certain activities, such as heavy lifting, for a short time after the test.
• Coronary angiography is a common medical test that rarely causes serious complications. The risk of complications is higher in people who have diabetes and kidney disease, and in older people and women.