Going into detail on what this term means and how it relates to health guidelines. This article may be incomplete.
A coronary angiogram is a minimally invasive procedure used to visualize the inside (lumen) of the coronary arteries (sometimes jokingly referred to by preventive cardiologists as a "lumenogram" since it only visualizes the lumen of the vessel and can miss mild atherosclerosis or "plaquing"). It involves the injection of a contrast dye into the arteries of the heart while X-ray images are taken. This allows healthcare providers to identify any blockages or narrowing in the arteries that may be causing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
During a coronary angiogram, a thin, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the arm or groin and threaded up to the heart. The contrast dye is then injected through the catheter into the coronary arteries, which makes the blood vessels visible on X-ray images. Any blockages or abnormalities in the arteries can be identified by the healthcare provider based on the images obtained during the procedure.
Coronary angiograms are commonly performed to diagnose coronary artery disease, assess the extent of blockages in the arteries, and plan for further treatment such as angioplasty or bypass surgery. This procedure is considered safe and effective in providing detailed information about the condition of the coronary arteries and is an essential tool in the management of heart disease.