What is a Gated Heart Angiogram?

A. Before your scan

Preparation – The day before your scan

From midnight before your examination, it is preferable to stop consuming any caffeinated food or beverages such as coffee, tea or cola.

Preparation – On the day of the scan

You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding your health status, medication, and any known allergies. If there is any chance you may be pregnant, please inform us before your scan. You may also be asked to change into a gown and remove some jewellery for your scan.

Medication to reduce blood flow and slow down the heart rate might also be given to make the images even clearer and easier to interpret. This will either be given in tablet form or via a cannula (a thin plastic tube) inserted into your arm. When the ideal heart rate is reached you will be taken into the CT room.

B. During your Gated Heart Angiogram

Scan

When you are transferred to the CT room you will be made comfortable on the examination table and connected to an ECG monitor for the duration of the examination. The examination table slides you into the centre of the CT machine and some preliminary pictures are taken to confirm the scan position.

X-ray dye (contrast) will be injected into a vein via a cannula (a thin plastic tube, like a flexible needle) in your arm. The scan is then performed while the dye is passing through your blood vessels. You may feel flushed during this injection.

The scan will take approximately 15-30 minutes.

Risks and side effects

A Gated Heart Angiogram is a very low-risk procedure. Find out more about CT Risks and Side Effects.

Who will perform my scan?

At Envision Medical imaging your Gated Heart Angiogram examination will be carried out by a radiographer (medical imaging technologist), who has a degree in medical imaging and is accredited by the Australian Institute of Radiography.  We have a team of Radiologists (a medical doctor specialising in the interpretation of medical images) as well as Cardiologist who will prepare and send a report to your referring doctor detailing the findings of your Gated Heart Angiogram.

How do I get my results?

After your appointment, the information from your scan is processed and interpreted by Envision’s medical imaging team before delivery of a report to your doctor.

Post procedural information

At the end of the procedure the cannula will be withdrawn carefully from the vein and a band aid applied. The ECG monitor will be removed. If medications to slow your heart rate have been given, you will usually be kept under observation until any possible dizziness has worn off. The dye will be flushed naturally by your body over the following 24 hours without you noticing it. You are free to eat and drink normally.  We recommend you continue to drink plenty of fluids to assist your body in flushing the contrast. You will be able to return to your normal daily activities after your scan.

• CT Contrast Consent Form