I had an angiogram today. The procedure seemed to be carried out at breakneck speed with the consultant constantly negotiating to the staff as he operated the catheter. It was all very unnerving.
Is it normal to go fast or was someone just in a hurry to get home?
How many more did they have to fit in that day? I expect they work as efficiently as possible. Mine took about 20 mins without feeling rushed.
I hope the outcome was OK.
I think they like to keep the exposure to radiation down to a minimum.
Mine took about 20-25m I think. Not rushed just very business like, with the music playing in the background though it felt pretty relaxed despite all the staff in there.
Slightly different to your experience 2yrs ago I had to have a new ICD lead fitted and the surgeon talk to his team all the time about what he was doing so its probably fairly normal maybe it helps to keep the whole team focused and refine the procedures Hope you soon get you condition stabilised
All I would add Is they let you out of the cath lab having done what they had to do !!!
On my last visit ( I have had quite a few ) the Consultant was "a Fellow " to my usual Cardiologist after about 20 minutes my usual Senior Cardiologist came in and they had a big discussion on what to do, it was like a training session maybe that's what was going on with yourself..
It turned out they then both stayed whilst my already bypassed LAD was opened and a lot of discussion was going with all the team I was asked how I felt about it, so just said go ahead.
Shows things don't always go to plan.
Regards
Wouldn't worry over the time these things take, we are all different I was told that PCI was on standby during my Angiogram and it was needed.
Mine took around 16.5 minutes, when I took my watch off I accidentally set the stop watch off.The fed in the wire, squirted the goo, saw something very nasty and pulled it out smartish.
I was a bit surprised having been promised a nice shiny stent, but I was apparently going to get a much better treatment, they wanted to give me a cabg.
I noticed that the stop watch was set as I put the watch back on, and commented on the time taken, the nice lady in somewhat baggy scrubs said that even with stenting it's a quick procedure, but in my case it had been a bit on the fast side.
And as I was leaving the cold slightly sparse stentograhpy and sticky wire in you room, I suddenly realised that I was going to be cut open.
At that point I wouldn't have needed much pre prep for a colonoscopy.
It's a fast procedure, but as every single part of the actual stick the probe in you bit is recorded the operator is careful because any mistake is available in glorious black and white.
Basically it's not unusual.
Dan.
Thank you for making me laugh Dan... 
Yes, I remember being told that I was going to need a CABG and they were so so quick with the angio! I think they stuck the wire in saw the state of my heart thought "Oh Sh!t" and whipped it back out again...no point in hanging around as it was very obvious that I need surgery!
But in all serious Bizzy, it's a really fast procedure which is oxymoronic considering what is being imaged and the potential seriousness. But, with all procedures involving x-rays they try to be as fast as possible to lessen the patient's risk. As an additional factor, I was only 34 so my arteries cramped round the catheter (apparently young vessels like being poked less) which was really uncomfortable and so they were in and out super quick. They of course still did the job properly and I have been shown my arteries more times than I care to think about. My fave is when one of my cardiologits (I have 3!) said that they were "Spectacular...ly damaged", thanks guys 😱😂😂
There is no way they were trying to get home early, they don't do an angiogram lightly and they want to cover every angle while they are in the room so you don't have to go through it again. My cardiologists have talked before about me having a 2nd one to check up on me recently and they actually decided against it just becasue they don't like to expose you to the risk unless they have to.
Hopefully you have found my reply reassuring and light-hearted, as it was intended - take care xx
I must admit mine seemed quite quick and constant chatter going on. From this I have worked out that better to have more than one person making decisions and the shortest time possible inside your heart has to be good.
as others have explained, this is usually performed fairly briskly
you say the cardiologist was "constantly negotiating to the staff as he operated the catheter", i don't know what he was saying but he may have been explaining for the benefit of new staff members, or he may have been newly appointed (although well experienced) and needing to establish how he preferred to work
either way it seems his manner left you feeling a bit unnerved, but it sounds like the procedure was efficiently done and you have emerged none the worst for it - phew!
Having reflected on the experience, it occurs to me that the speed may have been related to radiation exposure time. The consultant was only wearing a protective apron behind a Perspex screen. Also perhaps the injected dye disperses fairly quickly?
One staff member was having trouble getting the wire into my wrist and it was getting painful. At which point the main consultant said loudly, "stop messing around with that one and use a new one".
Nope not normal. Just a doctor not so concerned about the patient imo . My first angiogram , the doctor spent over 2 hours to insert the tube in my wrist and he couldn’t do it . I was in agony . I pleaded that he go through my groin which he eventually did and I got a blood clot there and he did not put the stent in properly so I ended up having another heart attack .Not all doctors are equal . There’s good and bad in every profession .
My "favourite" line from my angiograph was "I can't get it in any further, it's up to the hilt" 🤣. In all seriousness everyone in the room talked to each other, and me, throughout and kept things "light" which really helped keep me calm.
I had two procedures 2 days apart. No1, complete emergency, I was in the middle of a STEMI HA, total block of the RCA, so the Cardiologist wasn't hanging about. Have to say I felt a whole lot better afterwards. Then No2, I had been warned as I left the table after no1, I'd need more 'work', . Well got started then, a bellow from behind the screen, "what are you doing"? only Cardiologist from before clearly the 'boss' intervening, turns out I been saved by a v highly regarded cardio guy from 2 days before, whilst having my HA.
Don't be put off by their brisk ordering about, they need what they need straight away - sometimes very time critical. Interestingly though, I was chatting to him during the second procedure and he was happy to tell me what was happening once he understood how fascinated I was, then I realised he was also helping out with training the second, already well experienced chap and their discussions were fascinating, not at all domineering. They fitted 5 stents whilst I was chatting to them...although I got told off for breathing whilst the fitted one of them 🤭
As said in other posts, the anticipation needed and the well practised teamwork may appear rushed but is efficient and saves many a life.
Done Angiogram, now advised to do triple bypass!!! My world is crashed. I'm trembling with fears!
Is this normal??
CT scan results huge difference to Angiogram
Is a normal life possible?
