What Are the Risks of Coronary Angiography?

Coronary angiography is a common medical test that rarely causes serious problems. But complications can include:

• Bleeding, infection, and pain in the arm, groin (upper thigh), or neck where the catheter was inserted.
• Damage to blood vessels. This is a very rare complication caused by the catheter scraping or poking a hole in a blood vessel as it is threaded up to the heart.
• An allergic reaction to the dye used.

Other less common complications of the test include:

• An arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), which often goes away on its own, but may need treatment if it persists.
• Damage to the kidneys caused by the dye used.
• Blood clots that can trigger strokes, heart attacks, or other serious problems.
• Low blood pressure.
• A buildup of blood or fluid in the sac that surrounds the heart. This fluid can prevent the heart from beating properly.

As with any procedure involving the heart, complications can sometimes, although rarely, be fatal. The risk of complications with coronary angiography is higher if you have diabetes or kidney disease, or if you're 75 years old or older. The risk for complications also is greater in women and in people having coronary angiography on an emergency basis.