Coronary CT Angiography
What is a coronary CT angiography test?
A coronary computed tomography angiogram (CTA) is a heart-imaging test that helps your doctor determine whether fatty deposits or calcium deposits have built up in your coronary arteries, the arteries that supply blood flow to the heart. Using only an intravenous injection of contrast dye, the test in non-invasive and does not require placing a catheter into an artery or the heart.
What are some common uses of the procedure?
Many physicians advocate the careful use of coronary CTA for patients who have:
- Low to intermediate risk for coronary artery disease, but have symptoms such as chest pain which are not brought on by physical activity.
- Unclear or inconclusive stress test results
- Intermediate to high-risk for coronary artery disease, but who do not have typical symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue during heavy physical activity.
Coronary CTA does have its limitations. For example, it is not able to image people with irregular heart rhythms. Also, very obese patients or those with heavily calcified arteries may not benefit from this exam.
How is the procedure performed?
A nurse will insert an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your arm to administer contrast material (dye) during your procedure. You may be given a beta blocker medication through the same IV line or orally. Your IV line may also be used to administer nitroglycerin, which will dilate your vessels for better visualization of the coronary arteries. You will lie on a special scanning table.
Electrodes are attached to an electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor, which charts your heart’s electrical activity during the test.
Next, the table will move quickly through the scanner to determine the correct starting position for the scans. Then, the table will move slowly through the machine as the actual CT scanning is performed.
What are the benefits of this procedure vs. a cardiac catheterization?
Until now, cardiac catheterization has been the most important tool for evaluating the arteries of the heart. But, cardiac catheterization is an invasive procedure that requires an incision in the groin, inserting a catheter into an artery in the leg and advancing the catheter under X-ray guidance to the heart.
A coronary CTA is considerably less invasive than cardiac catheterization. It also takes considerably less time to perform coronary CTA when compared to cardiac catheterization. Coronary CTA is incredibly accurate at ruling out significant coronary artery disease.
You can have this procedure done in an outpatient setting, the preparation is minimal, there is essentially no recovery time and you may walk home minutes after completing the test.