Angiography (Including Non-Ionic Contrast)

1. What are the tests included before angiography and its cost?

Your doctor will recommend tests before angiography, including blood tests, MRI, ECG, chest X-ray, or cardiac CT. 10-15% of the total procedure cost is involved in medical tests related to the procedure. The treatment package contains the cost of the tests too.

2. Is the pharmacy and medicine cost included in the package?

The pharmacy and medicine bills are included in the package when the patient is in the hospital. On the other hand, if the patient buys medicines outside the hospital, they are not included in the package.

3. How long the patient has to stay in the hospital after the angiography?

The patient has to rest for four to six hours in the hospital after the procedure is completed and can go home the same day. Sometimes the patient needs to stay in the hospital overnight. They also need follow-up tests, such as ECG, and blood tests, throughout the first year after the angiography.

4. Is there any post-treatment expense after angiography?

When the patient gets discharged from the hospital, they can return to their normal routine within a week. Any bruising may last for up to two weeks, and the patient may feel a bit tired for a few days. They have to take blood-thinning medications for up to 1 year after the procedure.

5. Does insurance cover angiography?

Yes, angiography procedure is covered in heart health insurance plans. It covers hospitalization charges, ambulance expenses, pre and post-hospitalization charges, etc.

6. Is there any alternative to angiography?

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is an alternative to angiography and is more effective. But this involves open surgery, post-operative pain, and longer recovery time.

1. What is Angiography and how does it work?

Angiography is an X-ray procedure that examines blood arteries. Because blood vessels are difficult to see on a standard X-ray, a special dye must be injected into your blood first. This draws attention to your blood vessels, making it easier for your doctor to spot any abnormalities. Angiograms are the X-ray pictures generated during angiography.

2. What is the purpose of angiography?

Angiography is a procedure that examines the condition of your blood arteries and the flow of blood through them. It can aid in the diagnosis or investigation of a variety of blood vessel issues, including:
Atherosclerosis is a narrowing of the arteries that increases the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Atherosclerosis of the peripheral arteries – Leg muscles have a lower blood supply.
An aneurysm is a protrusion in the brain.

3. Why is angiography required?

It can provide pictures of blood vessels in a variety of organs. As a result, angiograms are frequently used to assist doctors in diagnosing disorders affecting the heart, brain, arms, and legs. Angiograms can be used to identify anomalies in the blood vessels, such as weakening blood vessels, plaque deposits, and blood clots.

4. What are the various kinds of angiography?

Angiography comes in a variety of forms, depending on which area of the body is being examined.
The following are examples of common types:
Coronary Angiography – a procedure that examines the heart and blood arteries nearby.
angiography of the brain — a procedure that examines the blood arteries in and around the brain.
Pulmonary Angiography – a procedure that examines the blood arteries that supply the lungs.
Renal Angiography is a procedure that examines the blood arteries that feed the kidneys.

5. Is an angiography procedure painful?

A catheter is a long, thin, flexible tube that is placed into an artery and carefully directed to the location to be studied. When this is done, you may feel some pressing and tugging, but it should not be uncomfortable.

1. How long does an angiography procedure take?

Angiography takes around 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete.

2. Is angiography performed on an empty stomach?

Eight hours before the angiography, don’t eat or drink anything. Make arrangements for someone to drive you home. Because you may feel dizzy or light-headed for the first 24 hours following your cardiac angiography, you should have someone remain with you the night after your test.

3. What happens during angiography?

Angiograms are performed in the radiology or X-ray departments of hospitals.

In preparation for the examination:

You’ll be awake most of the time, although you could be given a sedative to help you unwind.
A small cut (incision) is made across one of your arteries, generally around your groin or wrist, while you lie on an X-ray table. A local anaesthetic is given to numb the region where the cut is made.
A tiny flexible tube (catheter) is introduced into the artery and gently directed to the location to be studied (such as the heart)
After injecting a dye (contrast medium) into the catheter, a series of X-rays are obtained as the dye passes through your blood arteries.

1. How long does an angiography take to recover from?

You could feel weary, and the incision site will probably be sore for up to a week. Bruising might persist up to two weeks.

2. How long is bed rest after angiogram?

After an angiogram, your groin or arm may have a bruise and feel sore for a day or two.

3. How long do you have to stay in bed following an angiogram?

Patients need 8-12 hours of bed rest following coronary angioplasty, according to researchers’ clinical experience. The cornerstone of related research throughout the world is determining the best period for bed rest following angioplasty and removing the arterial sheet.

4. Is there any discomfort following an angiogram?

Your groin or arm may bruise and be uncomfortable for a day or two after an angiography. For many days, you can do light tasks around the house but nothing hard. Your doctor may give you precise advice about when you may resume routine activities like driving and returning to work.