Difference Between Angiography and Angioplasty

Angiography and angioplasty are two distinct medical procedures dealing with blood arteries. Angioplasty includes enlarging the restricted arteries to address the issue, whereas angiography is used to evaluate or analyze your blood vessels for a potential heart condition.

These techniques, which can be used independently or in combination, are crucial to treating and diagnosing specific problems.

Angiography

A diagnostic technique called an angiography, also known as an arteriogram or an angiogram, produces images of your blood arteries. To see how blood flows through arteries and any obstructions they could have, a series of x-rays utilizing the iodine dye contrast are necessary.

A surgeon uses a catheter into a primary artery, generally the femoral artery in your leg, to inject the dye during this minimally invasive treatment.

There are different angiography methods

• Aortic angiogram
• Coronary angiogram
• Pulmonary angiogram
• Peripheral angiogram
• Renal angiogram
• Cerebral angiogram

Furthermore, non-invasive imaging techniques like CT angiography (CTA) or MR angiography (MRA), which may or may not involve contrast dye, may be performed on patients. The CT scan involves radiation, but the MR scan does not.

Angioplasty

An angioplasty is a technique that unblocks or opens a blocked blood artery to increase blood flow. Due to the procedures utilized, this minimally invasive surgery is also known as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).

During an angioplasty, healthcare experts will place a catheter in your major artery and direct it to the blockage. The tip of this catheter features a little balloon that deflates and compresses the obstruction, opening your blood artery and enhancing blood flow.

Doctors may install a wire-mesh stent simultaneously to prevent the artery from collapsing. Depending on where it is performed, angioplasty can take numerous different forms

• Cerebral angioplasty
• Coronary angioplasty
• Renal artery angioplasty
• Balloon pulmonary angioplasty
• PTA of the femoral artery
• Carotid artery angioplasty

The use of laser radiation by medical professionals to clear the obstruction is another treatment option for patients.

Difference Between Angiography and Angioplasty

1. Symptoms of Angiography and Angioplasty

You must show specific medical symptoms for your doctor to advise having an angiography or angioplasty treatment. A range of medical disorders, usually those requiring some blood flow restriction, might benefit from these treatments.

Here are some symbols that could require each procedure.

Angiography

• Chest discomfort
• Unknown jaw, neck, or arm pain
• Breathing difficulties
• A severe headache
• Severe sickness
• Dual perception
• Have experienced a heart attack or stroke
• Have failed stress tests
• Potential blood clot or obstruction
• Possess a painful brain tumor

Angioplasty

• Continuous chest pain
• Regular breathing difficulties
• Key artery has been blocked by more than 50%
• Have a branching blood artery blocked by more than 70%
• Have peripheral artery disease or atherosclerosis, carotid artery disease

2. Potential Side Effects of Angiography and Angioplasty

An angiography or an angioplasty may have dangers or side effects, just like any medical operation. While discussing your health with your doctor, consider the risks and advantages carefully.

Angiography

The following adverse effects are possible with both angiograms and angioplasty

• Soreness Bruising
• The incision site is dripping with blood
• Itching or nausea brought on by the iodine dye
• For both treatments, potential side effects include:
• A blood vessel may be damaged or get caught by the catheter.
• Severe allergic response to the iodine dye
• Heart attack or stroke
• Dye-related kidney damage
• Infection in a blood artery or at the site of a wound

Angioplasty

All of the angiogram's potential negative effects are also conceivable with angioplasty. Other angioplasty side effects that might occur include

• A clot inside or close to the stent
• Restenosis, or re-narrowing of your arteries

3. Procedure of Angiography and Angioplasty

Angiogram and angioplasty procedures are quite similar. Yet, there are also differences since they attempt to address various health-related problems.

Angiography

You will be given a sedative to help you unwind and a local anesthetic to numb the incision site when suitable for your treatment. The doctor will create a minor incision outside your groin to access your main artery. Its accessibility and connections to all other arteries produce the preferred artery.

The doctor inserts a tiny catheter made of a medical-grade tube through your artery for the necessary examination. Your kidneys, heart, brain, arm, or leg are just a few examples of this section.

The doctor will then inject an iodine dye into the tubing to cause it to emerge from the blood vessels. The doctor uses an x-ray machine to create pictures indicating blood pressure, oxygen levels, and blood flow. Once the surgery is finished, the catheter is removed.

Angioplasty

Like an angiography, the angioplasty procedure involves sedating you and receiving local anesthesia. Once again, making an incision, the vascular surgeon threads a catheter tube into your main artery until it reaches the location of the blockage or restricted artery. Yet the tip of this catheter contains a little balloon.

The obstruction is pushed against the artery wall due to the surgeon inflating the balloon next. The doctor will deflate the balloon and inject iodine dye to see if your blood flow has increased. The balloon and catheter are removed from your artery after the doctor is comfortable with the improvement.

The surgeon could occasionally inflate the balloon and implant a wire-mesh stent simultaneously. If doctors think your artery could narrow again, they might add this step. After the surgery, they remove the balloon and catheter, leaving the stent within your artery.

4. Duration of Angiography and Angioplasty

Angiography

The duration of each angiography varies based on the area and any blockages or problems the physician may discover. Angiograms often last anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours or more. Typically, angiography is an outpatient surgery, meaning you return home the same day.

Angioplasty

The duration of an angioplasty might range from 30 minutes to three hours or more, depending on the kind. You frequently spend the night in the hospital after an angioplasty so that nurses can monitor your well-being and ensure the treatment is effective.

Difference Between Angiography and Angioplasty