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FAQ's For Patients |
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What is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)? |
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Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death worldwide and the most prevalent type is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).
Coronary Artery disease is named after the coronary arteries, which surround the heart, like a crown and supply it with blood, Nutrition and oxygen. CAD blocks the supply of the blood to the heart muscles. |
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What is Cardiac CT for Coronary Angiogram? |
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Computed tomography, also known as CT or CAT scanning, uses a special machine to obtain multiple x-ray images of any part of the body. The images are much more detailed than those provided by conventional x-rays. In addition, CT can display many different types of tissue including blood vessels.
Ours is the world's fastest (0.33sec per rotation) CT scanner and also the effective raditation dose is 68% less when compared to other CT Scanners.
Cardiac CT for Coronary Angiogram is a non-invasive way of obtaining information about the location and extent of plaque in the coronary arteries-the vessels that supply oxygen-containing blood to the heart wall. Plaque is a build-up of fat and other substances, including calcium, which in time can narrow the arteries or even close off blood flow to the heart.
The result may be painful angina in the chest or a heart attack. Calcium is a marker of coronary artery disease. The findings on cardiac CT, may help decide what measures can be taken to avoid these events. |
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What are some common uses of the procedure? |
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For Coronary Angiogram is to detect coronary artery disease (CAD) at an early stage when there are no symptoms and to determine its severity.
It is a screening study that may be recommended by a physician if you have risk factors for CAD but no clinical symptoms yet. The procedure is most often suggested for men aged 45 years or older and for women who are aged 55 and above or are postmenopausal recommended it, in order to discover early-stage CAD if present, or reassure themselves that they probably do not have advanced CAD.
The major risk factors for CAD, other than age, are:
. Abnormally high blood cholesterol levels.
. A family history of heart disease.
. Diabetes.
. High blood pressure.
. Cigarette smoking.
. Being overweight or obese and being physically inactive.
. Follow up after Bypass Surgery (CABG) or Stenting. |
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How does the procedure work? |
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During a computed tomography (CT) scan, the rotating gantry will emit x-rays that pass through the part of the body being examined-in this case the heart and coronary arteries. In spiral or helical CT, the patient passes through scanner as the gantry rotates. Multiple detectors mounted of the gantry along with the x-ray tube record the radiation leaving the body. The result is that the x-ray beam follows a spiral path. Recently developed spiral CT scanners produce high-quality images in less than 10 seconds. This is especially important for elderly patients and those who cannot hold their breath for the required time.
A negative cardiac CT scan that shows no calcification within the coronary arteries suggests that atherosclerotic plaque is minimal at most, and that the chance of coronary artery disease developing over the next two to five years is very low. A positive test means that coronary artery disease is present even if you have no symptoms. The amount of calcification-expressed as a score-may help to predict the likelihood of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) in the coming years.
| Calcium Score |
Presence of Plaque |
| 0 |
No evidence of plaque |
| 1-10 |
Minimal evidence of plaque |
| 11-100 |
Mild evidence of plaque |
| 101-400 |
Moderate evidence of plaque |
| Over 400 |
Extensive evidence of plaque |
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How is the procedure performed? |
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During cardiac computed tomography (CT) for calcium scoring, you will lie on your back on the table attached to the CT scanner. The table slides through the opening in the scanner while, at the same time a cylinder around the opening rotates around your body. The table will move forward slightly every few seconds so that you will be in the proper position for each new cross-section. This process continues until the region of the heart has been thoroughly covered. Electrodes (small metal discs) will be attached to your chest and to an ECG machine that records the electrical activity of your heart. This makes it possible to record CT scans at the best times - when the heart is not actively contracting. You will be asked to hold your breath for periods of 8 to 10 seconds while images are recorded. Contrast medium will be injected to see the Arteries clearly. |
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What are the benefits vs. risks? |
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Benefits:
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) for Coronary Angiogram is a convenient and noninvasive way of evaluating the coronary arteries.
The calcium score gives an idea of whether coronary artery disease (CAD) is present despite a lock of symptoms, or is likely to develop in the next few years.
Cardiac CT takes little time and causes no pain.
The examination can suggest the presence of CAD even when the coronary arteries are less than 50 percent narrowed. Standard cardiac tests will not reliably detect this level of blockage, and more than half of all heart attacks occur with less than 50 percent narrowing.
Risks:
Pregnant women should never have cardiac computed tomography (CT). If there is any possibility that you are pregnant you should inform the technologist or nurse.
The exam exposes the patient to a limited amount of radiation.
Cardiac CT sometimes is positive even though there is no significant blockage of the coronary arteries. As a result, the patient may undergo further tests that are not necessary and these tests might cause side effects. |
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CHECK OUT YOUR HEART IN 12 SECONDS |
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Q.1. |
What is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)? |
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Ans. |
Blockage in the main arteries of the heart is labeled as Coronary Artery Disease. |
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Q.2. |
How does the blockage occur? |
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Ans. |
Blockage in the coronary arteries occurs due to deposition of cholesterol on the surface of the arteries. This is a slow process and occurs over a period of time. Finally the deposits of cholesterol harden with further deposition of calcium within them. |
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Q.3. |
What are the implications of blockage of the heart arteries? |
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Ans. |
If the blockage becomes severe, then a person can start getting pain or discomfort in the chest. Others may complain of a choking sensation or pain in the left arm. If the blockage persists or suddenly progresses, a person may develop a heart attack or MI (myocardial infarction). This can be life threatening. |
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Q.4. |
Why does this disease occur? |
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Ans. |
There are various documented risk factors that predispose an individual to develop CAD. These include a strong genetic predisposition (family history), long-standing diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), smoking altered cholesterol levels (dyslipidemia) and even stressful lifestyle. As the number of risk factors increase, so does the likelihood of developing CAD. |
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Q.5. |
Can anything be done to prevent CAD? |
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Ans. |
Yes, although one cannot change ones genes, the other risk factors can be avoided and a change in lifestyle can decrease the likelihood of developing CAD. |
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Q.6. |
How does one detect the degree of blockage of the heart arteries? |
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Ans. |
The most definite technique is to perform a coronary angiography's, in which one needs hospitalization. A catheter with a wire is inserted into the thigh and advanced to the heart arteries. A dye (contrast) in then injected into the arteries to detect and quantify the blockage of these arteries. Although this test has been refined over the years, there are some inconveniences to undergo this test. These are hospitalization, complete immobilization after the test for 4-6 hours and some rare procedure related complications. |
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Q.7. |
Are there other techniques to detect the blockage? |
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Ans. |
Traditionally, for those persons at risk for developing CAD, certain non-invasive (without any intervention) tests have been performed as a part of executive check ups, including stress test (treadmill), echocardiography and thallium tests. With there, one cannot see the arteries, but assume their blockage if found to be abnormal. |
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