Angiograms

#7

Cardiology

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At NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, our state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratories provide the most advanced angiographic testing for the detection of occluded blood vessels. Coronary artery disease—also called atherosclerosis — is the blockage by fatty deposits of the blood vessels that supply the heart. Undetected, these blockages can be serious health threats, causing heart attack and even sudden death.

The gold standard for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease is the coronary angiogram, a term often used synonymously with cardiac catheterization.

During this procedure, which is performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, a tube or catheter is inserted into a blood vessel (usually in the groin), and is guided to the heart with the assistance of x-ray imaging. Dye is then introduced into the coronary arteries to detect blockages, and digital cine films (angiograms) are recorded and analyzed.

At NewYork-Presbyterian, we also extend our diagnostic capabilities beyond the heart. When clinically indicated, we can image all the vessels from the brain down to the feet, including those in the kidneys and the legs. Using angiograms as a diagnostic and evaluation tool, we can diagnose and treat aneurysms and other areas of blockage throughout the body in the cardiac catheterization lab.

We are also involved in advanced angiography techniques using minimal dye and specialized computers that can create three-dimensional reconstructions of body structures and blood vessels.

Last Modified: 08/17/2009