Angiography, or coronary angiography

Coronary angiography is available at Sydänkeskus Helsinki.

You have an appointment for a coronary angiogram / angioplasty. This examination will determine the condition of your coronary arteries and/or heart valves. Angioplasty is always done by prior appointment. In some exceptional cases, if you are taking the necessary medication and are able to go home after the procedure (this will be assessed with your doctor), angioplasty can be performed at the same time as the scan.

The examination uses X-ray fluoroscopy and a contrast medium. If you are hypersensitive to iodine, suspect you are pregnant or become ill before the procedure, please contact Sydänkeskus Helsinki at 09 3747 9700.

Preparation for the examination

  • The time on the invitation letter is your time to come to the hospital. In the morning, you will have breakfast. Leave your jewellery and other valuables at home.
  • Take a shower the night before or the morning of the procedure.
  • Bring an up-to-date medicine card or prescriptions and any special medicines you have (eye drops, asthma medicines, insulins).
  • We recommend that you wear loose and easily removable clothing. For the procedure, you will be wearing your own pants.

Medicine

  • Do not take any medicines prescribed for diabetes (Diformin, Metform, Glugophage, Amaryl) on the morning of the test. You will be given evening insulin injections as normal.
  • Do not take a dehydration medicine (Furesis, Diurex) on the morning of the test
  • The INR test should be checked about a week before the procedure at your health centre. INR should be in the treatment area on 2-3 days of the procedure. If the INR is above the treatment range, please contact the Helsinki Sydänkeskus. On the morning of the day of the procedure, you will have an INR blood test at the Sydänkeskus.
  • If you are taking Pradaxa, Xarelton, Eliquis or Lixiana, do not take the medicine on the morning of the examination.
  • Primaspan 100 mg, Aspirin Cardio, Disperin 100 mg: take them in the morning before the procedure.
  • Plavix, Clopidogrel, Efient and Brilique are taken as normal.
  • You can take your other morning medicines as normal.

During the examination

A nurse will prepare you for the procedure. The examination is performed under local anaesthesia, primarily on the right wrist. Other sites include the left brachial artery and the femoral arteries in the groin. An introducer is inserted into the wrist or groin, through which a thin plastic catheter is passed into the mouth of the coronary arteries. Through the catheter, a contrast agent is injected into the coronary arteries at the same time as the X-rays are taken. The examination takes about 30-60 minutes. After the procedure, your doctor will give you the results of the examination and a plan for further treatment.

Balloon extension

Angioplasty as a procedure is similar to coronary angiography. A thin catheter is inserted into the stenosed coronary artery and a balloon at the end of the catheter is used to dilate the stenosis. A support mesh (called a stent) is often placed in the dilated area. The duration of the procedure varies depending on the number and characteristics of the stenosis. Pain may be felt, for which painkillers are available if necessary.

After the examination

Depending on the examination method, the puncture site is blocked by either placing a tourniquet around the wrist, manually pressing the puncture site closed, or by a special patch applied to the arterial puncture site (groin).

After the procedure, you will be monitored for 1,5–3 hours.

Discharge

After the operation, driving is prohibited for one day. After discharge, avoid heavy physical exertion, bathing or swimming for two days.

If you experience anything special at the injection site, contact the Helsinki Sydänkeskus Mon-Fri between 8am and 2pm, and your local health centre at other times.

If you have any questions about the invitation or if you fall ill before the procedure, please contact Sydänkeskus Helsinki on 09 3747 9700.

Our partner hotels are Hotel Clarion in Jätkäsaari and Hiisi Home upstairs. When booking a room at Hotel Clarion, please mention that you are coming to Sydänkeskus for examinations. When booking Hiisi Home, use the code SYDA0604, either online or when calling.