Artery blockage

[choocw]

Is the result of MRA more accurate than angiogram?

[ed34]

perhaps one or all your stents are re-blocking? not as uncommon as you might think.

[ed34]

When I visited a Gastroenterologist, his first words when I answered that question were "It's your heart".

[choocw]

When I feel the discomfort and I stop and rest, it takes 2 to 3 minutes and the discomfort will go away.

[ed34]

There is a simple question to ask here. When on the treadmill and you get the discomfort, if you stop the treadmill and stand still, how long does it take the discomfort to go away?

[choocw]

I have gone through an angioplastic procedure, having in placed 3 stents.But I still feel the discomfort on my chest right after the procedure when going on a threadmill especially after food.I got back to my doctor and was told,it could be from my psychology or me having gastric problem.I suspect the potential of the doctor missing out on another part of the artery that has been narrowed.That is the reason why I ask the question of MRA.angiogram is doctor or human dependent for the detection while MRA is on pictures.Hope you can advise me further on my concern.Thanks.

[ed34]

A good catch 22 question. I would have to say yes, and I say this because it shows far more detail like the artery wall. An angiogram shows just one thing, the blood. From the shape of the blood flow, the cardiologist is able to see where restrictions or aneurysms are. However, an angiogram is a more versatile position to be in. For example, if they see a blockage which is obviously causing issues, then they can treat it there and then in many cases. They can also apply different chemicals to test it vasospasms are present. An MRA is basically a special MRI using contrast, and it just basically takes a photograph. What you see is how the vessels were at the time the image was produced. You don't sit and watch the vessels actually contracting and expanding. There is also the cardiologist to think about. Many actually hate looking at CT scans or MRA/MRI. They much prefer the live show on their angio screens. In many cases another Doctor has to look at the MRA/MRI or CT and advise the cardiologist. Sometimes when an angio is done after the MRA/CT the cardiologist finds the problem is being caused by something else. So it's all swings and roundabouts. I think this is why Angiography is still the preferred method by most Cardiologists. It's something they are used to, and something they are comfortable with and it's much easier for them to interpret very quickly.