CT Angiography in Pokhara — Coronary, Brain and Body CTA at KDRC

What is CT angiography?

CT angiography (CTA) is a CT scan taken while an iodine-based contrast dye flows through your blood vessels, producing detailed 2D and 3D pictures of the arteries and veins without inserting a catheter into an artery. If you need CT angiography in Pokhara, Kaligandaki Diagnostic and Research Center (KDRC) performs it on its 192-slice high-resolution Siemens CT scanner at Amarsingh Chowk.

The dye is injected through a small cannula in a vein in your arm. The scanner is timed so that it captures images at the exact moment the dye fills the vessels being studied. A computer then reconstructs the data into images that show the vessel walls, narrowings, blockages, bulges and clots. Doctors can rotate these 3D views on screen and look at a vessel from any angle.

Many patients simply ask for an "angiography test". There are two main kinds. Catheter angiography threads a thin tube through an artery in the groin or wrist. CT angiography, by contrast, needs only an injection into an arm vein. CTA is fast, non-invasive and needs no sedation or general anaesthesia.

Why does a fast CT scanner matter for angiography?

Speed matters in CT angiography because contrast dye passes through the arteries in seconds, and a fast scanner can capture the whole vessel tree while it is brightly filled. KDRC's 192-slice CT covers a large area in each rotation, which helps in several ways:

• Full coverage in one pass. Long vessels such as the aorta or the leg arteries can be imaged from top to bottom while the dye is at its peak.
• Short breath-holds. Chest and abdominal angiograms need you to hold your breath only briefly.
• Clearer heart images. The heart moves constantly, and fast scanning synchronised with your ECG reduces motion blur in the coronary arteries.
• Fine detail. Thin slices show small branches, the edges of a narrowing and the neck of an aneurysm.

The general CT platform at KDRC is described on our CT scan in Pokhara page.

What does CT angiography show? Uses and types

CT angiography is used to find blocked or narrowed arteries, aneurysms, blood clots, torn vessels, vascular malformations and injuries, and to plan surgery or stent procedures. The test is named after the area being studied. The table below lists the common types and why each is done.

CTA is also used before and after surgery, to guide stent placement and to map the arteries that feed a tumour. After a road accident or fall, it can quickly show whether a major vessel is injured.

Who may not be suitable for CT angiography?

Some people need extra checks or a different test before CT angiography. Your doctor and our radiologist will look closely if you have:

• A previous allergic reaction to iodine contrast dye
• Kidney disease or borderline kidney function, especially with diabetes
• Pregnancy or possible pregnancy
• An irregular or very fast heartbeat, for coronary studies
• Difficulty lying flat or holding your breath for a few seconds
• Thyroid problems, which the team asks about before giving iodine contrast

None of these automatically rules out CTA. They mean the team takes extra precautions, gives medicine beforehand, or chooses another test such as Doppler ultrasound. Telling us early, when you book, avoids a wasted journey to Pokhara.

Coronary CT angiography in Pokhara

Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is a heart scan that shows whether the coronary arteries are narrowed or blocked, using contrast dye and ECG-synchronised CT. It is the most common reason for a CT angiogram. It can also help plan procedures such as heart valve replacement, bypass surgery or stent placement.

Heart scans have a few extra steps compared with other CTAs:

• ECG leads. Small sticky electrodes on your chest let the scanner take pictures in step with your heartbeat.
• Heart rate control. Images are clearest when the heart beats slowly and regularly. Prospectively triggered scans are typically used when the heart rate is below about 65 beats per minute. If your heart is faster, the doctor may give a beta-blocker medicine to slow it.
• No caffeine beforehand. Tea, coffee, energy drinks and cola raise the heart rate. One widely used protocol asks patients to avoid caffeine for 12 hours before the scan.
• Short scan time. Time inside the scanner is usually only one to two minutes, though you may pass through more than once.

An irregular heartbeat, such as atrial fibrillation, can make coronary images harder to obtain. Tell us about any heart rhythm problem when you book. Your cardiologist decides whether CCTA, an exercise test or catheter angiography suits you best.

How to prepare for CT angiography

To prepare for CT angiography you usually avoid food for a few hours, tell us about allergies, kidney disease, diabetes medicines and pregnancy, and bring a recent kidney blood test if requested. Our team gives exact instructions when you book. The table below shows typical preparation by CTA type.

What happens during CT angiography?

During CT angiography a small cannula is placed in your arm, you lie on the scanner table, dye is injected by a pump, and the scanner takes images for a few seconds while you hold your breath. The steps below show a typical visit at KDRC.

When the dye goes in you may feel warm all over, notice a metallic taste or feel as if you need to pass urine. These sensations are normal and fade within a minute or two. Tell the technologist at once if you feel pain, swelling or tingling at the injection site, because dye can rarely leak into the surrounding tissue. Expect about 20 to 60 minutes in the testing room including preparation, while the actual time in the scanner is only about one to two minutes.

After the scan the cannula is removed. Drink plenty of fluids for the rest of the day to help your kidneys flush the dye out. Because no sedation is used, most people can drive, eat and return to normal activities straight away.

Is CT angiography safe? Contrast, kidneys and radiation

CT angiography is safe for most people; the main risks are a reaction to the iodine contrast dye, strain on kidneys that already work poorly, and a small dose of X-ray radiation. Your doctor and our radiologist weigh these against the benefit of a clear answer.

Contrast dye reactions

Severe allergic reactions to iodine contrast are rare, and CT teams are equipped to treat them. Mild reactions such as itching, hives or sneezing are more common and usually settle quickly. If you have reacted to contrast before, your doctor may suggest medicine beforehand or a different test without iodine contrast.

Kidney function

The kidneys clear the dye from the body. In people who already have borderline kidney function and are at risk of kidney failure, contrast could worsen it. That is why we ask about kidney disease and diabetes, and may request a creatinine blood test. Poor kidney function can sometimes make CTA unsuitable, and Doppler ultrasound may be an alternative for some vessels.

Radiation dose

A coronary CT angiogram gives a typical adult dose of about 8.7 mSv, roughly three years of natural background radiation. Doses for other CTAs depend on the area covered. The chart below puts this in context.

Chest pain that is severe or lasts more than a few minutes, sudden breathlessness, sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, slurred speech, or a sudden severe headache needs emergency hospital care now, not a booked scan. After the scan, get help immediately for breathing difficulty, swelling of the face or throat, or a spreading rash.

CT angiography in pregnancy, breastfeeding and for children

CT angiography is used in pregnancy only when the benefit clearly outweighs the risk, so always tell us if you are or might be pregnant. A suspected blood clot in the lungs during pregnancy is one situation where CT pulmonary angiography may still be the right test, and the radiologist keeps the dose as low as possible.

If you are breastfeeding, contrast manufacturers advise pausing for 24 to 48 hours after the injection. However, the amount of dye that reaches the baby through breast milk is extremely low, so many mothers continue after discussing it with their doctor. You can express milk before the scan if you prefer to pause.

Children have CT angiography only when it is essential, for example for congenital vessel abnormalities or injury, with child-sized low-dose settings. Radiation-free tests such as ultrasound or Doppler are considered first where they can answer the question.

CT angiography vs catheter angiography vs Doppler

CT angiography is a non-invasive scan through an arm vein, catheter angiography is an invasive procedure through an artery that can also treat a blockage, and Doppler ultrasound checks blood flow without dye or radiation. The comparison below shows the key differences.

CTA may give more precise anatomical detail than catheter angiography and can cost less. Catheter angiography remains the choice when treatment is planned in the same session. For long-term monitoring, many doctors alternate CTA with Doppler, which needs no contrast. Soft-tissue questions around the vessels may be answered by MRI.

When will I get my CT angiography report?

A consultant radiologist reviews the 2D and 3D images and writes a report for your doctor; our team will tell you when to collect it. Complex studies such as coronary or whole-aorta angiograms take longer to process than a single-region scan. Urgent findings, such as a clot in the lungs, a dissection or bleeding, are communicated to the referring doctor as soon as they are seen. Tell reception which doctor should receive your report, and bring previous angiograms or vessel scans for comparison.

The report describes each vessel studied, any narrowing and its approximate severity, aneurysms, clots and other findings outside the vessels. Your referring cardiologist, neurologist or surgeon will explain what the result means and whether you need medicines, further tests or a procedure. Images can be provided with the report for your doctor to review. A hospital that performed its own CT can also send the study to KDRC for a specialist opinion through teleradiology.

How much does CT angiography cost in Pokhara?

The cost of CT angiography in Pokhara depends on the vessels studied, the length of body covered and the amount of contrast and processing required, so KDRC quotes each study individually. A coronary or whole-aorta CTA involves more preparation and 3D reconstruction than a single-region study. Medicines such as a beta-blocker, and any blood test you need beforehand, may also affect the total. For the current price, call 061-553538 or 9856077433 with your doctor's request.

Why choose KDRC for CT angiography in Pokhara?

KDRC offers CT angiography on a 192-slice high-resolution Siemens CT, one of very few in the country, with every study reported by experienced consultant radiologists.

• Fast, high-detail scanner. Captures heart, lung, brain, neck, aorta and limb vessels while the dye is at its peak.
• Consultant radiologists. Dr. Bishworaj Bastakoti and Dr. Nawaraj Paudel have been consultant radiologists at KDRC since its inception. Both completed radiology residency in Manila, are members of the Nepal Radiologist Society and have been NMC-registered radiologists since 2016. See our radiologists.
• Related tests under one roof. CT, Doppler, MRI and ultrasound are available in the same building.
• Support for hospitals. Referring hospitals can send CT studies for expert reading through teleradiology.
• Ambulance. Patients who cannot travel safely can use KDRC's ambulance service.

How to book CT angiography at KDRC

Book CT angiography by calling 061-553538 or 9856077433 (Viber), emailing kaligandaki.dc@gmail.com or using our appointment form. KDRC is on Shantipath, Amarsingh Chowk, Pokhara-10, Kaski. Please call ahead so we can confirm your slot, fasting time, caffeine rules for heart scans and any blood test needed. Services at KDRC are available any day of the week, but confirm before you travel, especially if you are coming from Syangja, Tanahun, Parbat, Baglung, Lamjung or other districts.