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Angiography Procedures

Angiography is a test that helps doctors observe any abnormalities present inside a blood vessel's walls. It aids in producing x-ray images of blood vessels, helping doctors to identify exact problem areas. Also, it serves as a guiding tool during angioplasty surgeries. There are specific procedures that are characteristic of angiography.

  1. Preparation

    • Before angiography begins, your blood is tested for clotting ability. It will take 2-3 hours to obtain results from your bloodwork. During the waiting period, your doctor will discuss the specifics of the procedure and answer any questions you may have. Your doctor will study your blood-test results before starting angiography. If the results are good, the test will proceed; otherwise, it may be postponed.

    X-ray Technique

    • During angiography, a small incision is made in the groin or arm and a long, slender tube, called a catheter, is inserted. Your doctor guides the tube through the artery to the area that needs examining. Once the tube is in the target position, a special dye is injected into it. This dye magnifies problem areas, creating more defined x-ray images. A television camera transmits the images to a monitor, where they are seen in real time. Your physician examines the images to determine the extent of blockage inside of the blood-vessel walls. The test can last for up to 2 hours but is sometimes completed within 1 hour.

    Surgical Technique

    • Angiography can also aid in removing an arterial blockage in the legs, heart, or brain through a technique called coronary arterial angioplasty. Instead of using a scalpel to make incisions, doctors use this technique to make surgery less invasive. This procedure is similar to those of angiography to obtain x-rays. In fact, a doctor may perform the surgery directly after observing x-ray images. During surgery, a catheter is inserted into the incision area, and the doctor watches the catheter move through your body until it reaches the blocked artery or vessel. Then, contrasting dye is injected into the area, revealing the exact location of the blockage on a monitor. Your doctor guides a balloon catheter into the blocked vessel and opens it up by inflating the catheter end. Then surgical stents, small metal coils, are placed inside the vessel to prevent it from closing again.

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