Introduction to coronary angiogram and stenting

What is a coronary angiogram?

A coronary angiogram is a special kind of X-ray picture that shows the heart's blood vessels. Doctors use it to see if the heart is healthy. It helps to find out if there are any blocks or problems in the heart's blood vessels.

Here is how it works:

• A doctor puts a thin tube into a blood vessel in the arm or leg.
• The tube is gently moved to the heart.
• A special dye is sent through the tube.
• The dye makes the blood vessels show up clearly on the X-ray picture.

If you want help to understand, you can:

• Ask a doctor or nurse to explain more.
• Use pictures to help understand the process.
• Watch videos made for children about how the heart works.

Why do doctors do a coronary angiogram?

Doctors do a coronary angiogram to look at your heart. They want to see the blood vessels in your heart. This helps them find out if there are any problems.

Supportive tools that might help include:

• Pictures of the heart and blood vessels.
• Simple videos that show what happens during an angiogram.
• Talking with a doctor or nurse who can answer your questions.

What will happen before the treatment?

Before you have the treatment, here is what will happen:

• You might talk to a doctor or nurse.
• You can ask any questions you have.
• You may be asked not to eat or drink for a little while.
• You might be given special medicine to help you relax.

If you find reading hard, try using an app that reads text out loud. You can also ask someone you trust to explain it to you.

How do doctors do a coronary angiogram?

Doctors use a special test called a coronary angiogram to look at your heart. Here is how it works:

1. A doctor gives you medicine to help you relax. This might make you feel sleepy.

2. The doctor puts a small tube, called a catheter, into a blood vessel in your arm or leg.

3. The tube is gently moved through your blood vessel to your heart.

4. The doctor uses a special dye that makes your blood vessels show up on an X-ray.

5. The doctor takes pictures of your heart to see if there are any problems.

After the test, you can talk to the doctor about what they found.

If you want help understanding the test better, you can:

• Ask a family member or friend to explain it to you.
• Use simple pictures or drawings to see what will happen.
• Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions.

Does it hurt?

How long will this take?

This means: How much time will it use?

It is a good idea to ask someone for help if you have a question.

Sometimes, using a timer or clock can help you understand time better.

What is stenting?

A stent is a tiny tube. Doctors put it in blood vessels. It helps keep them open.

Sometimes, blood vessels can get too narrow. A stent can help fix this.

Tools to help understand:

• Look at pictures of stents online.
• Talk to a doctor or nurse.
• Ask someone to explain it to you.

Are there different kinds of stents?

Yes, there are different kinds of stents. Stents are tiny tubes that help keep blood flowing in your body. Doctors use stents to open up blocked blood vessels.

Here are two main types of stents:

• Metal Stents: These are tiny tubes made of metal. They help keep blood vessels open.
• Drug-Eluting Stents: These metal stents have medicine on them. The medicine helps prevent the blood vessel from getting blocked again.

If you find reading hard, try reading with a friend or using a reading app. You can also ask an adult to help explain the words you don't know.

When do you need a stent?

How long do I stay in the hospital after getting a stent?

After you get a stent, you might stay in the hospital for one or two days. The doctors will watch you to make sure you are okay.

Helpful Tips:

• Ask your doctor or nurse if you have any questions.
• Bring a book, toy, or tablet to help pass the time.
• Use a calendar to mark the days you stay and when you might go home.

What problems can happen with heart tests and treatments?

When doctors look at your heart with a special test called an angiogram or put in a small tube called a stent, some things can go wrong.

• You might get a bruise or feel sore where the doctor put a needle in your skin.
• Sometimes, you might bleed a little inside after the test.
• There is a small chance of having a heart attack during the test.
• Very rarely, people can have an allergic reaction to the dye the doctors use.

It's important to talk to your doctor if you feel worried. They can help you understand what happens during the test. You can also ask a friend or family member to go with you to the doctor.

What happens after the procedure?

Here is what you can expect:

• You might feel sleepy. Rest if you need to.
• You could have some pain or feel sore. This is normal.
• Your doctor will tell you how to take care of yourself.
• You might need help from a grown-up or a friend. It is okay to ask for help.
• Use simple words and ask if you do not understand something.

Will I need medicine after getting a stent?

A stent is a small tube put into your artery to help blood flow.

After getting a stent, doctors might give you medicine. This is to help you feel better and keep the stent working well.

If you have questions, ask your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand what you need.

Using pictures or getting someone to read to you might help. There are apps that read text out loud too!

Can changing how you live help the stent work better?

When a doctor puts a stent in your heart, it helps blood move around your body. But, how you live can make the stent work even better!

Here are some simple ways to help your stent:

• Eat Healthy Foods: Try to eat lots of fruits and veggies. They help keep your heart strong!
• Exercise: Moving your body can make your heart happy. Try walking, dancing, or playing outside.
• No Smoking: Smoking can hurt your heart. Try not to smoke or be around people who do.
• Take Your Medicine: Listen to your doctor and take all your medicine. It helps you stay healthy.
• Talk to Your Doctor: Ask questions if you are unsure about anything. Your doctor is there to help you.

There are also helpful tools if you need them:

• Ask for Help: Talk to a grown-up if you need support or have questions. They can help you understand.
• Pictures and Videos: Sometimes pictures and videos explain things better. They can be fun and easy to follow.

Remember, you can do many things to help your heart and stent stay healthy!

Do you need to see the doctor often after getting a stent?

What is a coronary angiogram?

A coronary angiogram is a special kind of X-ray picture that shows the heart's blood vessels. Doctors use it to see if the heart is healthy. It helps to find out if there are any blocks or problems in the heart's blood vessels.

Here is how it works:

• A doctor puts a thin tube into a blood vessel in the arm or leg.
• The tube is gently moved to the heart.
• A special dye is sent through the tube.
• The dye makes the blood vessels show up clearly on the X-ray picture.

If you want help to understand, you can:

• Ask a doctor or nurse to explain more.
• Use pictures to help understand the process.
• Watch videos made for children about how the heart works.

Why do doctors do a coronary angiogram?

Doctors do a coronary angiogram to look at your heart. They want to see the blood vessels in your heart. This helps them find out if there are any problems.

Supportive tools that might help include:

• Pictures of the heart and blood vessels.
• Simple videos that show what happens during an angiogram.
• Talking with a doctor or nurse who can answer your questions.

What will happen before the treatment?

Before you have the treatment, here is what will happen:

• You might talk to a doctor or nurse.
• You can ask any questions you have.
• You may be asked not to eat or drink for a little while.
• You might be given special medicine to help you relax.

If you find reading hard, try using an app that reads text out loud. You can also ask someone you trust to explain it to you.

How do doctors do a coronary angiogram?

Doctors use a special test called a coronary angiogram to look at your heart. Here is how it works:

1. A doctor gives you medicine to help you relax. This might make you feel sleepy.

2. The doctor puts a small tube, called a catheter, into a blood vessel in your arm or leg.

3. The tube is gently moved through your blood vessel to your heart.

4. The doctor uses a special dye that makes your blood vessels show up on an X-ray.

5. The doctor takes pictures of your heart to see if there are any problems.

After the test, you can talk to the doctor about what they found.

If you want help understanding the test better, you can:

• Ask a family member or friend to explain it to you.
• Use simple pictures or drawings to see what will happen.
• Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions.

Does it hurt?

How long will this take?

This means: How much time will it use?

It is a good idea to ask someone for help if you have a question.

Sometimes, using a timer or clock can help you understand time better.

What is stenting?

A stent is a tiny tube. Doctors put it in blood vessels. It helps keep them open.

Sometimes, blood vessels can get too narrow. A stent can help fix this.

Tools to help understand:

• Look at pictures of stents online.
• Talk to a doctor or nurse.
• Ask someone to explain it to you.

Are there different kinds of stents?

Yes, there are different kinds of stents. Stents are tiny tubes that help keep blood flowing in your body. Doctors use stents to open up blocked blood vessels.

Here are two main types of stents:

• Metal Stents: These are tiny tubes made of metal. They help keep blood vessels open.
• Drug-Eluting Stents: These metal stents have medicine on them. The medicine helps prevent the blood vessel from getting blocked again.

If you find reading hard, try reading with a friend or using a reading app. You can also ask an adult to help explain the words you don't know.

When do you need a stent?

How long do I stay in the hospital after getting a stent?

After you get a stent, you might stay in the hospital for one or two days. The doctors will watch you to make sure you are okay.

Helpful Tips:

• Ask your doctor or nurse if you have any questions.
• Bring a book, toy, or tablet to help pass the time.
• Use a calendar to mark the days you stay and when you might go home.

What problems can happen with heart tests and treatments?

When doctors look at your heart with a special test called an angiogram or put in a small tube called a stent, some things can go wrong.

• You might get a bruise or feel sore where the doctor put a needle in your skin.
• Sometimes, you might bleed a little inside after the test.
• There is a small chance of having a heart attack during the test.
• Very rarely, people can have an allergic reaction to the dye the doctors use.

It's important to talk to your doctor if you feel worried. They can help you understand what happens during the test. You can also ask a friend or family member to go with you to the doctor.

What happens after the procedure?

Here is what you can expect:

• You might feel sleepy. Rest if you need to.
• You could have some pain or feel sore. This is normal.
• Your doctor will tell you how to take care of yourself.
• You might need help from a grown-up or a friend. It is okay to ask for help.
• Use simple words and ask if you do not understand something.

Will I need medicine after getting a stent?

A stent is a small tube put into your artery to help blood flow.

After getting a stent, doctors might give you medicine. This is to help you feel better and keep the stent working well.

If you have questions, ask your doctor or nurse. They can help you understand what you need.

Using pictures or getting someone to read to you might help. There are apps that read text out loud too!

Can changing how you live help the stent work better?

When a doctor puts a stent in your heart, it helps blood move around your body. But, how you live can make the stent work even better!

Here are some simple ways to help your stent:

• Eat Healthy Foods: Try to eat lots of fruits and veggies. They help keep your heart strong!
• Exercise: Moving your body can make your heart happy. Try walking, dancing, or playing outside.
• No Smoking: Smoking can hurt your heart. Try not to smoke or be around people who do.
• Take Your Medicine: Listen to your doctor and take all your medicine. It helps you stay healthy.
• Talk to Your Doctor: Ask questions if you are unsure about anything. Your doctor is there to help you.

There are also helpful tools if you need them:

• Ask for Help: Talk to a grown-up if you need support or have questions. They can help you understand.
• Pictures and Videos: Sometimes pictures and videos explain things better. They can be fun and easy to follow.

Remember, you can do many things to help your heart and stent stay healthy!

Do you need to see the doctor often after getting a stent?