Coronary Angiography (CAG)

Coronary angiography is an X-ray examination using a special dye (contrast material) of the blood vessels or chambers of the heart to see how blood flows through your heart. Another name for this test is coronary arteriography.The purpose of a coronary angiography or heart angiography is to find a blockage in the coronary arteries, which can lead to heart attack. It may be done if you have unstable angina, atypical chest pain, aortic stenosis, or unexplained heart failure. The test can show how many coronary arteries are blocked, where they are blocked, and the severity of the blockages. If a blockage is found, your health care provider may perform a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to open the blockage. This can be done during the same procedure.Coronary angiography is usually done along with cardiac catheterization, which involves passing a thin flexible tube (catheter) into the right or left side of the heart, usually from the groin or the arm.