On the day of your coronary CT angiography, please bring with you:
- Previous imaging examinations of the heart / coronary vessels (e.g. previous coronary angiography, cardiac Triplex / echocardiogram) and your cardiology history
- If you have undergone bypass surgery or have had stents placed in the vessels of the heart, a detailed referral note from your cardiologist regarding the type of bypass and the number and location of the stents
- The referral form given to you by your physician
- The special intravenous contrast medium prescribed by your physician
- Your creatinine test, if it has not been performed at Metropolitan General
- Any identification document (e.g. identity card, passport or driving license) and your Social Security Number (AMKA)
How the examination is performed
Before the examination, you will complete a short questionnaire. The department nurse will take your medical history (you will need to inform us about the medication you are taking) and will measure your vital signs, so that the appropriate medication can be administered to regulate your heart rate. This is necessary for the examination to be performed correctly, so you may need to wait in the waiting area until your heart rate has stabilized at the desired levels.
Before you enter the examination room, the Radiology Technologist will provide you with special training on the breaths you will need to take during the examination, in order to obtain images that are as clear as possible.
How to prepare
In order for the examination to be performed, you need to have a low pulse rate and a stable heart rhythm. If your pulse rate at rest exceeds 70/min, contact your cardiologist so that they can give you the medication you should follow for a few days before the examination.
Because you will be administered an intravenous contrast medium, you must have undergone a blood creatinine test up to 30 days before your coronary CT angiography. If you wish, the test can be performed at Metropolitan General on the day of the examination; however, you should consider that 1 hour is required for the result to be issued from the time the sample is taken.
On the day of the examination, you must abstain from any beverage containing caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea or cola-type soft drinks) while you may take your medication at the usual time only with clear fluids (water or apple juice).
It is recommended that you wear clothing and other accessories, (e.g. jewelry) that are easy to remove.
- If you are a woman
Inform your physician before the examination if there is a possibility of pregnancy. - If you are diabetic
You must contact your physician after the examination. - Allergies
If you have previously experienced an allergy ONLY to CT contrast medium, you should contact the Department of Radiology – Medical Imaging by phone at +30 210 6502510-2511, 8:00-22:00. The referring physician may prescribe special preventive medication.
When you should arrive
Please arrive 30 minutes before your appointment time in order to complete the required formalities and your preparation.
After your examination
After the examination, you may return to your daily activities. It is recommended that you drink plenty of fluids after the examination is completed, in order to help eliminate the contrast medium from your body.
When and how you will receive your result
On the day of the examination, you will be informed by the Secretariat of the expected date on which your result will be issued.