Angiogram

Every year, thousands of clients that are uninsured, under-insured or self-insured turn to North American Surgery Inc. to have their surgeries performed close to home at or below the cost of overseas procedures. Why travel great distances and take unnecessary risks for uninsured medical procedures such as angiograms when affordable alternatives exist in the US? If you need an angiogram, but you are uninsured, North American Surgery can help you.

What is a coronary angiogram?

A coronary angiogram is a special X-ray in which a doctor inserts a thin flexible tube known as a catheter into an artery in your leg or arm. During the Angiogram, the tube is gently threaded into your heart. Then, a dye is injected into the catheter allowing the doctor to see, by a special TV screen, whether your coronary arteries are blocked and how your heart is beating.

Why do I need a coronary angiogram?

If your doctor diagnoses you with coronary artery disease, and it is not responding to medication, he or she may order this test to see the degree of blockage to your arteries.

Coronary artery disease occurs when the blood vessels that supply your heart becomes narrowed or blocked by fatty deposits known as plaque. This plaque narrows the arteries – and sometimes even blocks them – making it difficult for the blood to get through. And without a continual supply of fresh, oxygen-rich blood, your heart cannot do its job.

Coronary artery disease can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms often develop only after the disease is at an advanced stage. The best-known risk factors for coronary artery disease are:

• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Family history

Symptoms of coronary artery disease are:

• Tightness in the chest
• Crushing chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• A feeling of fullness
• Pain in the back

(Women are more likely to have subtler symptoms than men.) If you have experienced these symptoms, your doctor may have diagnosed you with angina, which simply means that your heart is not getting enough blood. If medication does not control your symptoms, a coronary angiogram is often the next step.

What will happen during a coronary angiogram?

A coronary angiogram is not surgery – instead, it is a procedure. You may be given medicine to relax you, but you will stay awake throughout. The doctor will numb the spot in your arm or leg where the catheter is to be inserted. You may feel slight pressure as the catheter is inserted and, perhaps an urge to urinate. You may feel warmth or flushing as the dye is inserted. Your doctor may be asked to hold your breath or to cough several times during the procedure.

What are the possible complications of a coronary angiogram?

Blood clotting problems, kidney problems and age can increase your risk for complications. Allergies can increase your risk of a reaction to the dye. When the procedure is complete you may experience some bleeding, pain, bruising or swelling where the catheter was inserted. Rarely, impaired kidney function or kidney failure can occur following an angiogram, especially if you already have kidney disease. The doctor who will be performing the procedure will help you assess your risks and discuss how to minimize them.

What happens after the procedure?

A nurse or doctor will apply direct pressure for 15 minutes or longer where the catheter was inserted to make sure there is no internal bleeding. Then you will be asked to lie quietly, likely for several hours. You will not be allowed to drive home, so be sure to have arranged a ride for yourself. Your doctor will discuss the results with you and indicate whether you are a good candidate for angioplasty.

What to do if you are Uninsured, Under-Insured or Self-Insured

North American Surgery Inc. acts as a facilitator, bringing our clients together with private medical clinics and hospitals that can provide the needed services and/or procedures in a timely manner and at affordable prices to the uninsured. If you are uninsured and want more information about private medical care, contact North American Surgery Inc. today.