Ct angiogram how long does it take

If the images show narrowing or blockages, your doctor will help you to decide the best treatment option for you. We need your feedback in order to improve the quality of our service. Please take a few minutes to fill our survey Participate. Contact Us. Your doctor may recommend a CTCA if you have symptoms of coronary artery disease, like: Pain or discomfort in your arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach Irregular heart beat - arrhythmia Difficulty breathing Excessive sweating Indigestion or heartburn Nausea or vomiting Light-headedness or dizziness Below, you can watch a short video explaining more about a CTCA from one of our doctors.

A CT angiogram is a less invasive test than a standard angiogram. A standard angiogram involves threading a thin tube called a catheter through an artery in your arm or leg up to the area being studied. But with a CT angiogram, no tubes are put in your body.

If your doctor sees that one or more of your blood vessels are narrowed or blocked, you may need a standard angiogram anyway to double-check the abnormal results from the CT angiogram. This is more likely to happen if your doctor is considering surgery to treat the narrowing or blockage. If your doctor finds a major blockage in one of your blood vessels during a CT angiogram, you won't be able to get an angioplasty right away to clear the blockage. You will need a separate procedure.

But if you have a standard angiogram and the doctor finds a major blockage, he or she can perform an angioplasty during the angiogram. A CT angiogram is done to look for:. Talk to your doctor about all your health conditions before the test. For example, tell your doctor all of the medicines you take, if you are or might be pregnant, if you're allergic to any medicines, or if you take metformin. Tell your doctor if you get nervous in tight spaces. You may get a medicine to help you relax.

If you think you'll get this medicine, be sure you have someone to take you home. You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for several hours before the test. Your doctor will let you know if there are certain foods or liquids you should avoid. If you are breastfeeding, you may want to pump enough breast milk before the test to get through 1 to 2 days of feeding.

The radioactive tracer used in this test can get into your breast milk and is not good for the baby. A CT angiogram usually takes 30 to 60 minutes but could take up to 2 hours.

The test will not cause pain, but some people feel nervous inside the CT scanner. If a medicine to help you relax sedative or dye is used, you may feel a quick sting or pinch when the IV is started. The dye may make you feel warm and flushed and give you a metallic taste in your mouth.

Some people feel sick to their stomach or get a headache. Tell the technologist or your doctor how you are feeling. The chance of a CT angiogram causing a problem is small. Results of a CT angiogram are usually ready for your doctor in 1 to 2 days. No narrowing, blockage, bulging aneurysm , or large buildup of plaque is seen. An aneurysm or tear dissection in the aorta is present. A narrow spot in an artery may suggest that a blood clot or a deposit of fat and calcium is reducing blood flow through the blood vessel.

Author: Healthwise Staff. But with a CT angiogram, no tubes are put in your body. If your doctor sees that one or more of your blood vessels are narrowed or blocked, you may need a standard angiogram anyway to double-check the abnormal results from the CT angiogram.

This is more likely to happen if your doctor is considering surgery to treat the narrowing or blockage. If your doctor finds a major blockage in one of your blood vessels during a CT angiogram, you won't be able to get an angioplasty right away to clear the blockage. You will need a separate procedure. But if you have a standard angiogram and the doctor finds a major blockage, he or she can perform an angioplasty during the angiogram.

Talk to your doctor about all your health conditions before the test. For example, tell your doctor all of the medicines you take, if you are or might be pregnant, if you're allergic to any medicines, or if you take metformin. Tell your doctor if you get nervous in tight spaces. You may get a medicine to help you relax. If you think you'll get this medicine, be sure you have someone to take you home.

You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for several hours before the test. Your doctor will let you know if there are certain foods or liquids you should avoid. If you are breastfeeding, you may want to pump enough breast milk before the test to get through 1 to 2 days of feeding. The radioactive tracer used in this test can get into your breast milk and is not good for the baby.

If a medicine to help you relax sedative or dye is used, you may feel a quick sting or pinch when the IV is started. The dye may make you feel warm and flushed and give you a metallic taste in your mouth. Some people feel sick to their stomach or get a headache. Tell the technologist or your doctor how you are feeling. No narrowing, blockage, bulging aneurysm , or large buildup of plaque is seen. An aneurysm or tear dissection in the aorta is present.

A narrow spot in an artery may suggest that a blood clot or a deposit of fat and calcium is reducing blood flow through the blood vessel. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: Rakesh K. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.

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