An angiography is an x-ray exam of the blood vessels. The exam uses a chemical that is injected into your blood vessels to make them more visible on the x-ray.
This procedure may be done to:
In some cases, the doctor can treat a blocked blood vessel at this time. This would prevent the need for another procedure.
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have an angiography, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
A local anesthesia will be injected into your arm or groin where the catheter will be inserted there. A small dose of sedative may also be given by IV.
The area of the groin or arm where the catheter will be inserted is shaved and cleaned. The area will be numbed with the anesthetic. A small incision will be made into your skin. A catheter (small tube) will be placed through the incision into an artery. The doctor will guide the catheter through the arteries to the area to be examined. The contrast material is injected through the catheter. The doctor watches the procedure on a nearby television monitor. Several sets of x-rays are taken. The catheter is then removed. Pressure will be applied to the area for about 10 minutes.
Less than an hour to several hours if the doctor decides to fix any problems at the same time
Although the procedure is not painful, you may feel the following discomfort:
Immediately following the procedure:
After your procedure, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions .
When you return home after the procedure, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
The radiologist will examine the x-rays and report the findings to your doctor. Your doctor will discuss the findings and any treatment options needed with you.
After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
RESOURCES:
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/
RadiologyInfo
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The College of Family Physicians of Canada
http://www.cfpc.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php/
References:
Angiography. American Society of Radiologic Technologists website. Available at: https://www.asrt.org/content/ThePublic/AboutRadiologicProcedures/Angiography.aspx . Accessed July 27, 2009.
Cerebral angiogram. Your Total Health website. Available at: http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/cerebral-angiogram.html . Updated June 2007. Accessed July 27, 2009.
Catheter angiography. Radiology Info website. Available at: http://www.radiologyinfo.org . Updated June 2009. Accessed July 27, 2009.
Last reviewed September 2010 by Arun Kalyanasundaram, MD, MPH
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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