Angiograms are part of a general group of procedures known as heart (cardiac) catheterizations. Cardiac catheterization procedures can both diagnose and treat heart and blood vessel conditions.
An injection of 5–12 mL of radiographic contrast solution containing iodine, which is easily visualized with X-ray images, visualizes the coronary tree, delineates its branching pattern, and outlines the inner diameter of a coronary artery. Both the right and left coronary artery are injected multiple times after changing the position of the X-ray system to visualize the coronary tree from different perspectives. If necessary, doctor can open clogged heart arteries (angioplasty) during coronary angiogram.
An angiogram is also called a peripheral angioplasty or balloon angioplasty. An angioplasty may be done with an angiogram if the patient has narrowed blood vessels. With this procedure, a balloon on the end of the catheter will be used to open up the blood vessel to improve blood flow.
The first human cardiac catheterization was performed in 1929, when the German phy-sician Dr. Werner Forssmann inserted a plastic tube in his cubital vein and guided it to the right chamber of the heart. He took an X-ray to prove his success and published it on 5 Nov 1929 with the title “Über die Sondierung des rechten Herzens” (About probing of the right heart).
Angiogram
