I had a nuclear stress test that may have showed an issue in my right coronary artery. I have no angina and excellent exercise ability. My cardio suggested to get an angiogram to see if it really blocked or just a false positive. I'm scared of the angiogram. Isn't the new 64 slice CT scan just as good to detect blockages as the invasive angiogram?
I saw a new cardiologist at a different hospital and he thinks I should have a CT Angiogram.. A CT Angiogram is a none invasive procedure, it takes 3d pictures of the heart using a ct scane 64 slice method. The scane can pic up blocked blood flow and narrow blood vessels.. But I would like to know witch one of the two is more reliable test.. Considering I had a negative nuclear stress test.. Will the ct angiogram be a more persised test at pinpointing and finding a possible problem..
Myocardial perfusion scan. During this procedure, you exercise on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle. When you reach your maximum heart rate, you're given the injection. Images are made of your heart shortly after exercise and also a few hours later. This test shows how well blood flows into the heart muscle and can detect narrowing of the coronary arteries (coronary artery disease). Appropriate for vessel occlusions...ischemia that may cause angina (chest pain).
Unfortunately, I made an error in first post...I do know the difference between angioplasty and an angiogram. I tried to make a corrrection in my second post and inartfully referred specifically to just an angiogram (cath vs. CT scan). Prit's father had had a CT angiogram and now the doctor wanted to do a cath angiogram.
I think people are confusing who said what in their post. So, perhaps I should clear up my points. A vein which was grafted during my bypass completely blocked and no blood was flowing through the vessel, hence no trace material for the scanner to pick up. This rendered the vein invisible during the angiogram. However, a CT scan did pick up the vein, supposedly because it slices the actual anatomy of the heart using different tissue densities to create an image.
A CT angiogram is more sensitive than a straight forward angiogram. They both rely on a radioactive substance being injected into your blood stream and it's this which the scanners pick up. If a CT angiogram doesn't reveal a vessel, then no way will an angiogram.
I had a vein that was closed after a bypass procedure and they looked for 30 minutes in a standard angiogram procedure to try and find it.
i know this might be the right forum for my question, but i know many in here have implants that requier ongoing ct scans. Is 4 ct scans to many? i agree this ct angiogram is needed because my symptoms are not tolerable anymore. ill be paying for this ct angiogrm out of pocket because my health imsurance wont cover, and also i had a heated argument with the cardiologist from my inssurance. is 4 ct scans excesive?
CT scan 64-slice angiogram as well as a cath angiogram is by definition an angiogram as both involve a dye injection, but there is more intense radiation exposure with CT angiogram. It is fast becoming the radiological test of choice to look at disease of blood vessels. The next generation of a ct scan will reduce the individual's radiation exposure.
The ct angiogram involves an assessment of the body of the vessels as well as the lumen.
Also, you refer to process in discussion is a CT scan. It is a CT angiogram and involves the anatomy of vessels (cross section) and is as good as a cath angiogram and a CT scan (256 slice is 3D) is much more inclusive and can include respiratory system, the heart, aorta (ascending, arch, and descending), etc.
I had a CT angiogram for heart this week. Compared to a regular angiogram or catheterization , the CT angiogram can be considered a noninvasive procedure. However, in your dad's case the CT angiogram may also be considered risky because of kidney problems. His kidneys may not be able to deal with the dye used for CT angiogram. I am not a doctor so here I am just giving advice based on my on experience.
Thank you for your detailed response. You are obviously well versed in all the possibilities.
My CBC was perfect in April. My regular Dr is very thorough and I've never had a thyroid problem and only slight anemia when I was younger. I know the heart Dr immediately put me on the Coumadin (before all the testing) because of the reading from the Holter monitor and the possibility of blood clots. Same reason for the beta blocker.
Hi, I had a ct angiogram Dec 21 and my calcium score is 694. My cholesterol is 242. My doctor put me on crestor 10 mg per day. I just got the hard copy report today and my dr. is away for the holidays.... what does that score mean? I have chest pain frequently but they thought it was all in my head....
An angiogram (CT or cath) test examines the coronary arteries for any blockage. Blocked coronary ateries compromise the blood flow to the heart tissues. A lack of blood flow to the heart cells causes chest pains. If there are blockages, a stent implant (usually done at time of angiogram) will increase the diameter of the occlusion/occlusions permitting more blood to the deficit area. Sometimes the area of blockage can not be stented because of location, tortuous segment, too long, etc...
First of all, you say he has no symptoms? was this also the case during the stress echo when angina was produced?
When the heart was stressed, it was seen that the lower part of the heart had hardly any movement, which means it's impaired. I have no idea what "fair LV systolic function" means?
If this was my heart, I would be looking for a bit more than medication. Even before max heart rate the lower part of the heart has impaired wall movement.
I have a history of high cholesterol and am currently on a cholesterol reducing medication as well as a medication to reduce blood pressure. I was offered several options as the next step and opted for a CT angiogram. Given my other results, should I have gone directly to the more conventional angiogram in spite of the slightly greater risk? If there is a good chance that I will need an angiogram anyway, am I not putting myself at risk by going through another step?
hey my dad is suppose to go in for an angiogram but he fears what might happen to him if he does. i was wondering if there was possible any alternative procedure or something else he could possibly do.
I have to have a valve replaced and am having an angiogram to see if there is blockage to be treated at the same time. The physician doing the angiogram has indicated he will put in a stent if he finds blockage. My feeling is that this is unnecessary as the major advantage of angioplasty (less invasive than bypass) is totally irrelevant since I'm having a valve replaced anyway.
Thoughts?
Hi, a CT angiogram is noninvasive as compared to the traditional angiogram and is usually the preferred mode of investigation. CT angiograms will expose you to a small amount of radiation. If you have known coronary artery disease, a traditional coronary angiogram may be a better option, since you can also receive treatment for your artery blockages during a traditional coronary angiogram.
Not to be critical as I beleive Lutheran meant to say cath angiogram. Both cath or CT angiogram use contract dye to view perfusion, and that procedure is the definition of angiogram.
A CT scan 64/128 views the anatomy of the 4 main heart vessels and will show any soft plaque between the linings of the vessel as well as any plaque buildup in the lumen. The cath angiogram views the lumen for the plaque that narrows and obstructs blood flow causing angina (chest pain).
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