Angiogram after stent

[A380A400]

Hi after a cardiac arrest and a stent fitted while I was on holiday in the UK in early December the cardiologist who signed me out said my local hospital would be in touch to arrange a second angiogram to assess how successful the stent was and if any permanent damage. I am feeling ok and desperate to get back to normal but am anxious until I have the second angiogram. Had anyone else had a second angiogram after a stent and if so how long did it tia

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Rather than wait for them to contact you I suggest you contact the appointments team at your local hospital where you are going to have your angiogram and first confirm that they have got your referral and assuming they have, are you classed as urgent or routine. Then enquire as to the current waiting list time. You could, if you are able, offer yourself to be placed on the short notice cancellations list assuming they run one, which may bring forward your appointment.

[A380A400 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thanks for that. I am assuming it is the norm to have an angiogram after a stent to assess the success of it

[paw1 in reply to A380A400]

Speaking from my experience I did not have a follow up angiogram after receiving a stent, due to narrowing of an artery and angina on exercise 12 years ago. I was fairly quickly put back into the care of GP.

However last year I did have another angiogram due to some recurrence of symptoms.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to A380A400]

In addition to checking with the appointments team as I suggested earlier concerning the angiogram you believe you are to have, I suggest you also check your discharge notes from your 'holiday' hospital to confirm whose care you have been discharged to now you are home. Is it the GP, in which case there will be no follow up by a hospital of any sort unless the GP deems it necessary to refer you, or have you been referred on to a local hospital cardio team with recommendations as to what happens next, although that will be the decision of the local hospital cardio team. If it is the latter it might also be worthwhile you checking with one of the medical secretaries in the cardio team to ensure you are are their books and you on their radar for whatever ongoing care they consider necessary. Unfortunately many of us have tales of important information getting 'lost' within the leviathan that is the NHS, so it pays to be pro-active in chasing things up when necessary, for it is in your own interests to do so.

[A380A400]

Great info thanks. I am under the care of my local hospital as they have contacted me about my cardio rehab program that I start in a couple of weeks so will chase them up

[Jedi14]

Well in my experience of angiograms here's what happened. Following my HA several tests were immediately carried out to assess what was happening, during my stay in hospital. The last desisive test was the angiogram! This happened afew days later as the waiting list was long. But due to my increasing problems I was sqeezed in on the last day. Once they had all the infomy heart map was formed with the % blockages.

Following this, the diagnosis was complete and I had 2 choices:1) Triple by pass 2) Possibility of stents. I opted for stents and with each angiogram I had 2 stents inserted (total of 6). There was no follow up angiogram as all should be well enough. Remember that any invasive procedure poses a health risk in general. So unless absolutely necessary, you won't get an angiogram.