Angiography: Best test for Heart artery blockage in Agra
Angiography is the best test for finding out if you have blockage in your coronary arteries. Angiography is of two types- Invasive (Gold Standard for finding out blockages) and Non-invasive ie CT Coronary Angiography.
Agra Heart Centre- Dr. CR Rawat/ Dr. Rajat Rawat are experts in both Invasive and Non-Invasive angiography to accurately diagnose any blockages in your heart arteries.
Who should undergo an angiography test?
–> If you or your loved one, has ever had a chest pain, chest discomfort, palpitations, ghabrahat, syncope, pre-syncope, shortness of breath or breathlessness. These symptoms – whether at rest or present on walking or climbing some stairs. If they have ever had these symptoms then angiography is most likely recommended to you. Sometimes, after an abnormal ECG or Echo, angiography is recommended. Or even to diagnose asymptomatic coronary artery disease when other tests are non-diagnostic then also angiography can be recommended.
What is the cost of an angiography test?
Angiography is only a diagnostic test, not a therapeutic test. It can diagnose blockages in the heart. For treatment- medical management with medications/ angioplasty with or without stenting/ or bypass is recommended depending on the number of blockages, and number of arteries involved or other abnormalities.
The average cost of angiography is around 10000 INR to 15000 INR. At Agra Heart Centre, as of today, angiography is done at 12000/- INR. Some hospitals offer angiography at higher rates, and some at slightly lower rates. But ask yourself, does money matter when it comes to the quality of the test done? Agra Heart Centre has the best cath lab in Agra, and the only cardiologist- Dr. Rajat Rawat who had done his DM Cardiology and also fellowship from the world’s best cardiac hospital- Freeman Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, UK. Dr. CR Rawat -Senior Consultant Cardiologist is the President of UP Chapter of Indian Society of Cardiology. This makes Agra Heart Center the best cardio hospital for angiography, angioplasty and stenting and pacemaker.
Any risk of angiography?
This is beyond the scope of this article- as individual risks may vary depending on the patient profile. All patients are different and have to be treated as such. Your doctor will discuss individual risk as per the patient. However, in general risk of angiography is minimal, if at all.
Which is better invasive angiography or CT Coronary Angiography?
Even though Invasive angiography done by cardiologist is the Gold Standard test to detect blockages. CTCA (CT Coronary angiography) has also come up. However, there are a few drawbacks to CTCA.
CTCA uses more contrast dye to detect blockages- this dye is kidney toxic is used in large amount. Invasive angiography uses very little dye, as dye is only injected inside target vessels that have to be examined, unlike CTCA that has to give a large amount of dye so that it reaches the target vessels.
CTCA takes longer time, and heart rate has to be controlled for it to detect any blockages. CTCA is also not recommended in patients with prior stents as previous stents may cause a blooming effect and tests are not very clear- for prior stents- conventional invasive angiography is the best.
If any blockages are detected in CTCA- they have to be confirmed by invasive angiography, as invasive angiography is the gold standard, because CTCA looks at arteries from outside while invasive angiography looks the artery from the inside- the lumen, which is the place where blockages start affecting the artery. Hence, patient may have to give double cost- first for CTCA then for invasive Angiography to confirm CTCA findings. Rather than go for invasive angiography is the first instance.
However, CTCA has some place in management still. CTCA is a good test to rule out blockages, in patients who are assumed to have no blockages and just a confirmatory test is needed. In patients who have anomalous coronary arteries or for bypass graft patency- CTCA is a good test. In patients where coronary artery location is not judged or have congenital heart problems, or where artery could not be hooked- CTCA can be done. For most other indications- conventional invasive angiography done by an experienced cardiologist is the best.
For appointment of best cardiologist in Agra: Dr CR Rawat/ Dr Rajat Rawat: Call on 7830000618
Agra Heart Center and Multispecialty Hospital- 5, Church Road, Civil Lines, Ram Nagar Colony, Agra.