What to bring on the day of your CT Coronary angiography
- Previous imaging exams of the heart/coronary arteries (e.g., prior coronary angiography, cardiac triplex) and your cardiology medical history
- If you have undergone a bypass or had stents placed in your coronary arteries, a detailed referral from your cardiologist indicating the type of bypass, and the number and location of the stents. Please ensure your doctor completes the special referral form.
- The referral given to you by your doctor
- The specific intravenous contrast medium prescribed by your doctor (e.g., IOMERON 40% 200ml, ULTRAVIST 370 200ml)
- Your creatinine blood test result, if it has not been performed at Metropolitan Hospital
- Any identification document (e.g., ID card, passport, driver’s license) and your social security number
How the scan is performed
Before the scan, you will fill out a brief questionnaire. A nurse from the department will take your medical history (you will need to inform us about any medication you are currently taking) and measure your vital signs. Based on this, the proper medication will be administered to regulate your heart rate. This is essential for the successful performance of the exam, and you may need to wait in the waiting area until your heart rate stabilizes at the required levels.
Before entering the scan room, the Radiology Technologist will give you specific breathing instructions for the duration of the scan to ensure the clearest images possible.
How to prepare
To perform the exam successfully, you must have a low and stable heart rate.
If your resting heart rate is above 70 bpm, contact your cardiologist in advance to receive the appropriate medication regimen a few days before the scan.
Since intravenous contrast medium will be administered, you must undergo a creatinine blood test within 30 days before your CT coronary angiography. If you wish, this test can be done at Metropolitan Hospital on the day of your appointment, but please note that it takes 1 hour to issue the result after the sample is collected.
On the day of the exam, avoid any drink containing caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, cola-type soft drinks).
You may take your usual medications at their normal time, but only with clear fluids (e.g., water, apple juice).
We recommend wearing clothes and accessories (e.g., jewelry) that are easy to remove.
- If you are a woman, inform your doctor before the exam if there is any chance you might be pregnant.
- Allergies:
If you have previously had an allergic reaction only to CT contrast agents, please contact the Radiology Department at 210 4807082 (8:00 AM–4:00 PM).
Your referring doctor may prescribe preventive medication.
Typical preventive medication protocol:
-12 hours before the exam: 2 tablets of Medrol 16 mg
-2 hours before the exam: 2 tablets of Medrol 16 mg
-1 hour before the exam: 1 tablet of Zirtek 5 mg - If you are diabetic and take medication containing metformin, you must contact your doctor after the examination.
When to arrive
Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to complete the required paperwork.
After your examination
You may resume your normal activities immediately after the scan. If a contrast agent was administered, it is recommended to drink plenty of fluids after the examination to help your body eliminate the contrast material.
When and how to receive your results
On the day of your examination, the reception will inform you of the expected date your results will be ready. The report will be sent to the email you provide, and you can also access your report and images through the My Ygeia app.