Cardiovascular Diseases and Coronary Angiography
In today's world, human life expectancy is increasing. One of the main reasons for this is the reflection of technological advancements in the field of health. As a cardiologist, I would like to inform you about cardiovascular diseases and coronary angiography.
Importance of Cardiovascular Diseases
When we look at the causes of death worldwide, diseases caused by the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries that supply the heart are among the leading causes. Cardiovascular diseases can occur at any age; however, factors such as hypertension, diabetes, aging, high cholesterol, and a family history of heart disease increase the risk. The most common symptom is chest pain; shortness of breath, palpitations, and fatigue may also accompany. In some cases, it can progress without any symptoms and silently lead to a heart attack.
Diagnostic Methods
In diagnosing cardiovascular diseases, listening to the patient's complaints and physical examination are important. When necessary, tests such as electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, stress ECG, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, and coronary angiography can be performed. No single test is sufficient alone; each complements the other. Especially, coronary angiography is the most effective method in detecting cardiovascular diseases.
What is Coronary Angiography?
Coronary angiography is an imaging method used to examine the heart's blood vessels. In this procedure, the blood flow in the vessel and whether there is narrowing or blockage in the vessel are investigated. It is usually performed through the groin (right groin) artery, but performing it through the wrist artery is becoming increasingly common. The procedure takes approximately 10-15 minutes for both entry sites.
Risks of Coronary Angiography
As with any medical procedure, coronary angiography has some risks. These risks are generally low, reported at a rate of one in a thousand. Possible risks include bleeding at the procedure site, hematoma, infection, vessel damage, nerve injury, allergic reactions, and rarely, damage to the heart vessels or embolism. Performing angiography through the wrist, using a smaller vessel, reduces these risks, especially in overweight patients. However, to apply this method, it must be shown that both arteries in the patient's forearm are actively working.
Treatment and Discharge Process
With both methods, when narrowing and blockages are detected in suitable vessels, balloon or stent application can be performed simultaneously. In groin interventions, 6 hours of bed rest is recommended after the procedure, while in wrist interventions, the patient can be discharged after 1-2 hours of observation. This is advantageous, especially in overweight patients, to reduce post-procedure complications.
Conclusion
Coronary angiography is one of the most effective methods in evaluating cardiovascular diseases. Performing it through the wrist increases patient comfort, reduces the time to return to work, and lowers the risk of possible bleeding. Therefore, we prefer the wrist coronary angiography method in our clinic.
With healthy nutrition and regular exercise, you can reduce the need for coronary angiography and live a long and healthy life with your loved ones.
Wishing our hearts continue to beat together…
