CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA)
What to know
CT coronary angiography (CTCA) uses new state of the art CT technology that can take images of a beating heart. This non-invasive examination makes visualisation of the coronary vessels possible and provides very useful diagnostic information for patients who are considered at high risk for coronary artery disease. Risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) include smoking, hypertension, diabetes and a family history of CAD.
This appointment is significantly longer than other scans. You could be in the clinic for approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Does any of the following apply to you? If so please contact us as soon as possible.
- You suspect or know that you may be pregnant
- You have ever experienced a severe reaction to a previous injection of contrast media
- You suffer from asthma or have kidney disease
- You are a diabetic
Do you require an interpreter?
Is the patient non-english speaking? If so, we can arrange for an interpreter to be present during the appointment. Please let us know as soon as possible so we can make the relevant arrangements.
- No caffeine from midnight prior to your appointment, this includes tea, coffee, chocolate and energy drinks
- Fast for 2 hours prior to your appointment, water only
- Please keep taking all regular prescribed medications
- Cease use of Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and Sildenafil for 3 days prior to your appointment
- Refrain from exercise the morning of the examination. While a CTCA is very similar to a CT calcium score, both tests require different preparations and scans. If your doctor has referred, you for a CT calcium score please click here for more information.
- On arrival, you will complete relevant paperwork prior to your procedure, please bring a list of all current medication with you
- A nurse will take your blood pressure and heart rate
- You may be given a beta blocker tablet depending on your heart rate until the target heart rate is achieved to optimise scanning pulse and blood pressure will be monitored until the ideal heart rate is reached
- You will be taken into the CT room, where an ECG monitor is connected for the duration of the procedure
- You will lie on a procedural bed that moves in and out of a donut-shaped machine containing the X-ray tube and detectors
- You will be required to follow the breathing instructions during the procedure
- An iodine-based contrast injection will be given during the procedure
- Although you may be in the clinic for 3-4 hours, you will only be in the CT room for around 20-30 minutes
- Following the procedure, the nurse will monitor you until your heart rate returns to a similar rate you presented with
- Specialist radiologists will review and report your CT scan and provide results to your referring doctor
- Inform the reception team of your follow-up appointment with the referring doctor.
CTCA is a low risk, low radiation dose, non-invasive examination of the coronary arteries. It can accurately detect and grade stenoses or narrowing within the coronary arteries, as well as being able to demonstrate developmental anomalies of the coronary vessels. It can also be used to check the patency of existing coronary artery grafts. Patients who might benefit from a CTCA examination include:
- Patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Patients presenting with atypical chest pain
- Patients with coronary arteries anomalies
- Patients with asymptomatic coronary atherosclerosis with known CAD
- Post bypass surgery patients.
Side effects are very rare, however following the contrast injection you may feel:
- A warm flush and/or metallic taste in your mouth
- Occasionally some patients may experience transient nausea
- These side effects, if they occur, do not last very long
- Allergic reactions are uncommon, and can include a temporary itchy rash
Other more severe allergic reactions are extremely rare.
