Coronary Angiogram (Cardiac Catheterisation)
Gold-standard invasive coronary angiography to diagnose coronary artery disease — precise imaging of heart artery blockages.
What is It?
A Coronary Angiogram is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that allows your cardiologist to visualise the inside of the coronary arteries — the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle. It is widely recognised as the gold-standard test for diagnosing significant coronary artery disease.
At One Heart Centre, our interventional cardiologists have expert training in performing coronary angiography with precision and safety, using advanced X-ray imaging together with contrast dye to identify any narrowing or blockages in the arteries.
Why is It Performed?
At One Heart Centre, our cardiologists may recommend a Coronary Angiogram to:
- Investigate persistent or high-risk chest pain
- Diagnose coronary artery disease with definitive accuracy
- Assess the severity and location of known blockages
- Investigate abnormal stress test or CT scan results
- Guide treatment decisions such as angioplasty, stenting or bypass surgery
- Assess the coronary arteries following a heart attack
A coronary angiogram provides precise information that cannot be obtained through non-invasive tests alone, ensuring the most appropriate treatment pathway is identified.
What Does the Test Involve?
The procedure is performed in a specialised hospital catheterisation laboratory. You will be awake but given medication to help you relax. Local anaesthetic is applied to the wrist or groin, where a thin tube (catheter) is gently inserted into an artery and guided to the heart under X-ray imaging.
Once in position, contrast dye is injected and detailed X-ray images are taken of the coronary arteries. You may feel a brief warm sensation when the dye is injected — this is entirely normal and passes quickly.
The procedure typically takes 30–60 minutes. Afterwards, you will rest for several hours while the access site is carefully monitored. Most patients return home the same day or the following day, depending on findings and any treatment performed.
What are the Benefits?
- The most accurate diagnostic test for coronary artery disease
- Precisely identifies the location, severity and extent of blockages
- Directly guides life-saving treatments such as stenting or surgery
- Provides definitive answers when non-invasive tests are inconclusive