A question frequently asked by patients who suspect they have coronary artery disease but have concerns about undergoing traditional angiography is: “I’ve heard about non-invasive angiography, what is it?”
Commonly known as non-invasive angiography or CT angiography, it is a vascular imaging method used for patients suspected of having coronary artery disease but who, for various reasons, may not want to undergo a direct angiography procedure.
Who is it suitable for?
It is suitable for individuals with moderate to high risk factors for coronary artery disease and those with a family history of early-onset coronary artery disease in first-degree relatives.
It can be applied to patients with other underlying health conditions who we may not want to directly subject to an angiography procedure in order to assess the condition of their blood vessels.
It can also be performed on individuals who are highly anxious about undergoing traditional angiography but still have suspicions of having coronary artery disease.
It is not used for patients presenting with suspected heart attacks; they are directly referred for coronary angiography.
How is it done?
Similar to a CT scan, it is administered through an injection in the arm vein. It allows us to see whether there is a blocked or narrowed artery.