Angiogram

[Nini74]

i'll try to keep it brief - dad due to have heart surgery Monday due to an aneurysm (sorry about spelling). He was scheduled for an angiogram today. Apparently they couldn't do it through his arm and so tried his groin area, but still couldn't do it so now he needs to have another one scheduled when they're going to do it "manually" - i've tried to find out what this means but can't find anything. should i be worried about why they were unable to perform the test the normal way? or whether the surgery on monday is still likely to go ahead? any advice would be gratefully received. cheers x

[Buenchico]

This might help:
http://en.wikipedia.o...ki/International_unit
(Click through the links in black, such as 'Why it is used', to read the full article).

Chris

[ttfn]

Hello Nini. I have had a few angiograms and 2 x angioplasty to have stents fitted following MI's. My local hospital in Bournemouth prefers to use the groin for both of these procedures, as did Hammersmith, in the case of my sister. I understand this to be similar for many hospitals.

The angiogram is a very simple and painless procedure giving one, if required, the opportunity to view the heart on monitor - which I did. I understand why this procedure is called 'invasive' though it certainly felt nothing like that.

I have also had a perfusion MRI scan which is classed as non-invasive. After fitting a cannula in both wrists, one's heart is scanned at length. One is told when to breath - in and out - and when to hold one's breath. One is then injected into one cannula and and the heart is re-scanned. I was given a panic button to press if I found it all too much. I must say that I was very surprised at the speed in which the injection worked and I cannot say I found it a very pleasant experience. I was sorely tempted, more than once, to press that button, but having been engaged in a lengthy debate with the cardiologist that I was not suffering mere indigestion I persisted with the scan. I must add that it was this scan alone which persuaded the surgeon to give me my first 2 stents and that probably saved my life, so it was worth the unpleasantness.

http://www.heartandmetabolism.org/pdf/38/4.pdf

I know of no other 'manually done angiogram' and wait to be corrected by the experts.

My only advice is to trust in the hospital and wonderful staff, wherever your father is seen and for you not to worry unduly. I am sure he is in good, safe hands. i wish him well with whatever treatment/procedures he is given.

[Sqad]

Nini74 I will have to assume quite a lot her as your description is not quite adequate.

You father has an aortic aneurysm in the chest,the ascending aorta (close to the heart) the arch or the descending aorta furthest from the heart,but still in the chest.

I have never heard the term "manual" applied to angiography but i do wonder if you misheard and they said MRI which is a scan which may well be appropriate in the case of your father.

It certainly is a major procedure but necessary and good results in expert hands.

[Sqad]

I have just had further thoughts.

Now it looks as though the aneurysm may be close to the coronary artery and they need to know if the artery is compromised, as if it is, then he will need a stent in that artery as well as the removal of the aneurysm. Of course if the artery is not involved then just the removal of the aneurysm will be all that is necessary.

When opening the chest on Monday, the could manually feel the artery or insert a dye directly into the coronary arterial system before they start to remove the aneurysm.

Hope this helps.

[Nini74]

thanks all - he's had an x-ray of some form today and they're happy to go ahead with the operation tomorrow. he actually has a heart murmur which was going to be fixed, and then they discovered the aneurysm, so we're lucky really. sorry i was so vague in my post, dad tends not to tell me too much so i don't worry - which has the opposite effect! thanks all x