Angiography

ANGIOGRAPHY

Angiography or arteriography are general terms used to denote a radiologic examination of blood vessels within the body. This is accomplished with the injection of an iodine-based contrast through a catheter placed at the site of interest. The catheter is a long, very thin, flexible tube which is hollow to allow for the passage of contrast once it is in place. Digital Subtraction Angiography (obtaining computerized pictures of the area of interest) is used in conjunction
with the routine arteriogram in many cases. Arteriography is a sterile procedure usually done on an inpatient basis, but can be done as an outpatient, according to the decision made by you and your doctor.

PREPARING FOR THE EXAM

You will not be allowed to eat or drink anything after midnight, the evening before the exam. The day of the exam a Radiologist will come to pre-procedure room and talk to you and family members about the exam. He will explain the purpose of the procedure, the technique used to reach the desired blood vessel or organ, and the sensations you may have as a result of the contrast medium. Because there are risks involved in introducing a foreign object into a blood vessel, the Radiologist will ask you to sign a permission slip and will answer all your questions regarding the exam.
Right before the exam a technologist will shave your groin area, the most common site for introduction of the catheter. A nurse will give you medication to help relax you.

THE EXAM
In the X-ray Department the technologists will help you on to a padded X-ray table and then take some preliminary films, without contrast, of the area of interest. After the Radiologist has viewed these films the exam will proceed somewhat in the following fashion:

You will be uncovered so that the doctor may wash off the injection site.
He will sponge off the area with Betadine and alcohol and then sterile drapes will be positioned over you, leaving an opening at the injection site.
The doctor will inject Xylocaine, a numbing medication, into the surrounding area.
After the area is completely numbed, the Radiologist will insert a needle with a lumen, hollow middle, into the site.
When blood feeding back through the needle indicates to the doctor that he is in the artery, he will insert a guide wire into the lumen of the needle to “guide” the catheter into the vessel under study.
With the aid of fluoroscopy the catheter will be placed in the proper position and the wire will be pulled out. The injector will then be attached to the end of the catheter and you will be positioned for films.
Rapid films will be taken while contrast media is injected into the blood stream. Since it passes through some vessels very quickly it is important that you lie very still and follow the directions given to you by the Radiologist and the technologist. The Radiologist may need to take several sets of films to insure a proper study of all vessels concerned.

COMPLETION OF THE EXAM
At the end of the exam the Radiologist will pull the catheter out and hold gentle pressure over the area for at least ten minutes. It will be important for you to keep your leg perfectly straight for at least four to six hours after the exam to insure against further bleeding. The Radiologist will write orders for your nurse to check the injection site frequently when you are back in your room. After studying all of the films the Radiologist will get in touch with your doctor to discuss the findings.

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Radiologic Studies