Hospital Procedures
Coronary Angiogram – Checking for blocked arteries
A coronary angiogram is a specialised test that uses X‑ray imaging and contrast dye to show whether your heart’s arteries are narrowed or blocked. A thin catheter is inserted into a blood vessel—usually in the wrist or groin—and guided to the heart, where dye is injected to visualise blood flow in the coronary arteries.
Coronary Angiogram
Why is it done?
Your cardiologist may recommend an angiogram to:
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- Confirm or rule out coronary artery disease (narrowing or blockages).
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- Plan the right treatment—such as stenting (PCI)—if a blockage is found.
Coronary Angiogram
What to expect during the test
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- A local anaesthetic is used at the access site (wrist or groin).
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- A fine catheter is threaded to the heart and contrast dye is injected.
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- X‑ray images are taken to map blood flow and locate any narrowings.
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- If a significant blockage is identified, your doctor may discuss proceeding to stenting (PCI), sometimes in the same session, depending on your circumstances
At Riverina Cardiology, coronary angiograms are performed within a hospital setting as part of our comprehensive regional cardiac care - Calvary Riverina Hospital/Regional Imaging and Wagga Wagga Base Hospital - so patients can access advanced diagnostics and treatment locally without needing to travel to metropolitan areas.
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