Cholesterol medication can reduce calcium already in the heart in higher doses. Medication is always best if the heart situation is not life threatening. An angiogram at the age of 70, can have more risks than for someone who is younger. Sometimes the arteries become thin or weak, which increases the risk of an artery tearing during an angiogram. Does he have diabetes? If so, this would increase his risk. His LVEF is great! Left main artery is normal, which is the most important artery.
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.
Different people have different layouts of coronary arteries. Sounds strange I know, but there are different groups people are put into, depending which of their arteries are dominant or co-dominant or non-dominant. I for example am Co-dominant where the left and right arteries share equal amounts of the heart, supplying it with oxygen. Some are left dominant where the LAD and LCX supply most of the back of the heart. Some are right dominant where the RCA does this job.
t think a 64-slice CT-A is good enough to remove all doubt as to were you are as far as your heart is concerned plus you will be out $1,300, however, an Angiogram will. Below is what I found on a web site. That ought to tell you something.
"If the CT scan is normal or only mildly abnormal, it makes the likelihood of a severe blockage of the coronary arteries extraordinarily small.
ve had all the other work ups, including a nuclear stress test or stress echocardiogram, then I think your chances of having significant ischaemic heart disease are very small.
You will know a lot more about your heart health after the procedure, they will determine your EF factor during the Angiogram. Your heart arteries will be mapped, any abnormalities noted.
I have advanced CAD, and have for close to fifteen years. I wasn't very careful with my health until fifteen years ago. You have an opportunity to have a great snapshot of your heart vascular condition, and can create a baseline for further treatments, if needed.
No heart damage was detected, they did an angiogram and found only 10% micro vascular blockages. Then one month ago I had again possible heart attack. Elevated triponin that continued to rise with chest pain. Did not see any stress cardiomyopathy on echo. I again had a repeat angiogram but only showed micro vascular blockages at about 10%. They are puzzled with what is going on. I am active and excise daily, have been eating low fat, low sugar diet for 15 years.
An angiogram is not looking for electrical conduction problems like an EKG or holter monitor test. An angiogram rules out major blockages in the heart from plaque, etc.. Please ask your doctor for an event holter monitor that you can wear to check on the rhythm and electrical conduction of your heart.
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.
When they introduce the medication, your blood pressure, pulse and ekg should be monitored at all times and they should stop at the point your heart reaches its calculated maximum. Spasms are unfortunately unpredictable. I am curious, how did they diagnose the spasm? was it actually seen on the angiogram?
You better check with your doctors, I am not sure about the potential damage due to the radiation dose that you will take during the procedure.
Also if they discover blockages in your coronaries, I do not know about the risk of the medication that you will need.
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...then a bypass surgical operation may be the only remedy.
I am scheduled for an Angiogram next week. My question is what does this all mean? Also had mild regurgitation in valves. Should I be concerned.
i have a family history of heart disease i have just been in hospital with chest pains mainly when i'm walking up stairs i had a tredmill test my blood pressure droped after 5mins & the test was stoped i then had an angiogram which showed plaque disease and a few ventriclar ectopics i have high cholestral 6.
The circumflex is a coronary artery, supplying oxygen to the heart muscle, at the rear/left side. It is an important vessel because it does supply quite a substantial amount of tissue. Severe disease refers to the fact it is coated inside over a considerable distance with plaque, restricting the flow of blood.
The Cardiologist may feel bypass is required. I do believe if the disease is over a long length of the vessel, it is very rare for stenting to even be mentioned.
You have mild reversible ischemia in the anterior wall in the LAD territory which may be treated with medications or a stent depending on the severity. Your heart is still functioning well with a EF% of 71% which represents the amount of blood pumped out of the left ventricle with each beat. Do write to me again after the angiogram. I sincerely hope it helps.
Best luck and kind regards!
berlysue,
The doctors are concerned that parts of your heart may not be getting enough blood. The doctors will be performing an angiogram to look to see if you have blockages in your coronary arteries (the arteries which supply blood to the heart) which are the cause of your slightly low ejection fraction and wall motion abnormality (which means that part of your heart isn't beating a vigorously as your would like).
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