Radiology. Cardiac CT Scan (CT Coronary Angiography) Information

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1 Radiology Cardiac CT Scan (CT Coronary Angiography) Information

2 This leaflet gives general information about a CT coronary angiography scan. What is Cardiac CT scan? A cardiac CT scan is a specialised test that uses a CT scanner and x-rays to produce detailed images of your heart and surrounding blood vessels. This allows us to see any narrowing or blockage of the arteries around your heart. Why do I need it? You will have recently seen your consultant who will have discussed with you his/her reason for wanting a cardiac CT scan. Some reasons include: Atypical/unusual chest pain Family history of coronary artery disease Evaluation of existing heart problems You may have had a coronary angiogram which has been inconclusive or more information is required Your cardiologist may want further imaging assessment of your heart for reasons other than the ones mentioned above What are the benefits of a CT coronary angiography scan? A CT coronary angiography gives detailed pictures of your heart & the blood vessels (called coronary arteries), which help us to make a diagnosis or further assessment of any existing health problems. This will help the cardiologists to plan the best treatment for you. 2

3 Pre-assessment clinic Before you have your scan you may be given an appointment to attend a pre-assessment clinic. You will be seen here by a radiology nurse and cardiac radiologist. In this clinic your heart rate and blood pressure will be checked and blood samples may be taken if required. You may also be prescribed some medication to take before the scan. These are known as beta blockers and help to slow your heart rate to ensure the best scan results will be achieved. It may be unnecessary for you to see the nurse before the scan if you are already taking medication (beta blockers) to slow your heart rate. If you are not asked to attend the pre -assessment clinic please continue your medication as normal unless advised otherwise. What do I need to do to prepare for the scan? For the best results you will need to be relaxed and your heart rate needs to be slow and stable. The following will help to achieve this. Do not eat for 4 hours before the scan Do not consume sugary or caffeinated drinks such as tea, coffee including decaffeinated drinks, fizzy drinks, energy drinks, chocolates or medications containing caffeine 12 hours before the scan, as these will raise your heart rate on the day of the scan. Do not undertake cardio- vascular/physical activity that will raise your heart rate on the day of the scan. Please try and avoid driving or cycling to or from your appointment. It is also good idea to ask some one to come with you for the appointment. If you are asthmatic and use an inhaler, please bring it with you to your appointment. 3

4 If you are diabetic and taking metformin you should contact the CT department in advance of your scan. You should continue to take your routine medications as prescribed. Please bring the list of your current medication with you. You will receive a short questionnaire along with your appointment letter requesting information regarding allergies and medical conditions. Please fill this in and bring it when you attend this scan. You should be able to return to your normal daily routine activity after your scan. How is CT coronary angiography carried out? Once you have booked in at the main reception, an X-ray nurse will collect you to take readings of your heart rate and blood pressure. If your heart rate is still high, it may be necessary to give another dose of beta-blockers which may be in the form of a tablet or an injection decided by the consultant radiologist. When you are ready for your scan, our radiographer will ask you to lie on the scan table. The radiographer will connect you to the ECG machine to monitor your heart rate throughout the test. As the bed moves through the scanner we take pictures of your heart and arteries at certain points during your heart beats. We will give an injection of X-ray contrast (dye), so that we can see your heart and arteries clearly. The radiographer or the doctor will place a small needle into your arm to allow the X-ray dye to be administered during the scan. Immediately after the injection you may feel warm and have a metallic taste. 4

5 This is normal and passes off quickly. The dye will pass through your system quickly. During the test it is very important that you are comfortable to ensure you are relaxed and still. You will be asked to hold your breath for up to approximately 20 seconds at some point during the scan. We will practice this with you before your scan and go through exactly what you should expect during the procedure. It is important that you manage to hold your breath for this length of time as the motion from breathing causes blurring and can ruin the scan pictures. How long will the scan take? The scan itself should only take around 20 minutes. Please be aware that you will be asked to arrive up to an hour earlier than your appointment time. This will allow time for your heart rate and blood pressure to be checked and medication to be given, if required. Since you may have been given medication as described above, you should anticipate being in the CT department for at least 2 hours. What are the risks involved? In rare cases, some patients may experience an allergic reaction to the contrast (which can manifest as an itchy rash, shortness of breath etc). In these cases, medications are given to reverse the reaction and further monitoring and observations may be required before you are discharged. Occasionally, some people feel dizzy with the beta-blocker medication requiring intravenous fluids and medications to correct low blood pressure or low heart rate. X-ray dye injection can cause your kidneys to work more slowly. This is only a problem if you already suffer from kidney problems. 5

6 If you have not had a recent blood test you will need to have one before your examination to check your kidneys are working properly. Either your GP or we will organise this for you. You cannot have a cardiac CT scan if you are pregnant. Even though the risk to a fetus would be small, is not recommended to have a cardiac CT unless deemed medically urgent by your doctor. Depending on these blood results you may need to be hydrated before and after the scan but we will contact you if this is required. Are there any risks of radiation used in the scan? There is a small dose of radiation involved in cardiac CT, but the amount is generally small and we make every effort to minimize this for you. The amount of radiation used to perform CT coronary angiography is small and kept to an absolute minimum. The radiation you receive will be equivalent to a few years worth of natural background radiation we are all exposed to and this may increase your life time risk of cancer by 0.01%. Your consultant has decided that for your condition the benefit of having cardiac CT scan outweighs any risk. Radiation affects the growing cells and can be harmful to unborn babies. So if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant please tell us before you have your scan. 6

7 After the scan We will monitor you for 30 minutes after your scan to ensure your heart rate and blood pressure are stable before letting you go home. We cannot give you your results straight away. The radiologist will need time to look at your scan pictures in detail and the formal scan report will then be sent to the consultant who sent you for the scan. Shall I continue taking my medications? Yes, continue taking any medications unless your cardiac doctor/nurse advises you otherwise. What if I still have questions? After reading this leaflet, if you want to know more or have any concerns, you can contact your cardiac doctor/nurse, the CT scanning department or you can the ask the radiographer when you arrive. If you cannot keep your appointment or have any queries please do not hesitate to contact: CT scanning department Monday to Friday: 8-30 am 5.00pm 7

8 If you need this information in another format or language, please telephone Further information about the Trust is available on the following websites: KGH - NHS Choices - Ref: PI 816 March 2013 Review: December 2014

How To Prepare For A Ct Scan

How To Prepare For A Ct Scan Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust Radiology Department Information for patients having a CT scan page 2 The radiology department has received a request for you to have a CT scan. This leaflet tells