Left heart ventricular angiography

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Heart, section through the middle

Left heart ventricular angiography

Definition:

Left heart ventricular angiography is a procedure that studies the left side of the heart and, sometimes, the coronary arteries. A dye is injected through a thin flexible tube (catheter) into the heart, followed by a series of x-rays to look at blood flow.

Alternative Names:

Angiography - left heart; Left cardiac catheterization; Left ventriculography

How the test is performed:

You are given a mild sedative prior to the test. An intravenous line is started in your arm to allow for the administration of medication during the procedure. After cleansing and numbing the site, a cardiologist makes a small cut in your arm or groin. A catheter is inserted into an artery, then carefully threaded into your heart using x-rays for guidance. When the catheter is in place, dye is injected to view the left heart, the blood vessels that supply the heart (the coronary arteries), or both.

How to prepare for the test:

Food is restricted for 6 - 8 hours before the test. The procedure takes place in the hospital. Sometimes, admission the night before the test is required. Otherwise, admission as an outpatient or inpatient on the morning of the procedure is required.

A health care provider will explain the procedure and its risks. You must sign a consent form for the procedure. You will be given a mild sedative 1/2 hour before the procedure. The procedure may last from 1 to several hours. You will wear hospital clothing.

How the test will feel:

The procedure takes place in a radiology department or cardiac diagnostic laboratory. You will be given sedation to relax you prior to the procedure, but you will be awake and able to follow instructions during the test. You will remain on a stretcher throughout the entire test.

You are given local anesthesia when the catheter is inserted, and the only sensation is one of pressure at the site. Occasionally, a flushing sensation occurs after the dye is injected.

Why the test is performed:

Left heart angiography is used to spot abnormalities in blood flow through the left side of the heart, abnormalities of the left heart valves, or heart-related obstructions.

Review Date: 5/1/2005
Reviewed By: Fabian Arnaldo, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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