Coronary Angiogram at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Medical Center)

A coronary angiogram is a procedure that uses X-ray imaging to find out if your coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked, where and by how much. It is a part of a general group of procedures called cardiac (heart) catheterizations, which can diagnose and treat blood vessel and heart conditions. A coronary angiogram is the most common type of cardiac catheterization procedure.

A coronary angiogram can be used to diagnose conditions of the heart, plan future treatments, and complete certain procedures. Your doctor may recommend the procedure if you have:

• Pain in your chest, neck, arm, or jaw that cannot be explained by other tests

• Symptoms of coronary artery disease, such as angina (chest pain)

• New or increasing chest pain

• A congenital heart disease (a heart defect you were born with)

• A chest injury or blood vessel problems

• A heart valve problem.

In some cases, your doctor may also suggest this procedure if they found something abnormal in a noninvasive heart stress test. The procedure can also be performed after a heart attack or to plan surgical procedures, such as coronary angioplasty and where blocked or narrowed blood vessels are widened.