Overview
An angiogram, also known as an arteriogram, is an x-ray examination of the inside of your blood vessels or arteries to detect blockage or narrowing of the vessels. During this procedure, a small tube called a catheter is placed into a blood vessel in the groin or arm. An x-ray dye or contrast is then injected into the catheter, and pictures of the blood vessels of interest are taken. A specially trained doctor, either a radiologist or surgeon, performs this procedure.
Who is a Candidate
A good candidate for an angiogram would be someone who has been determined to have significant arterial plaque or disease requiring very specialized procedure to diagnose or treat the underlying condition.
What to Expect
Angiograms are considered outpatient procedures and patients usually go home the same day. Once the catheter is removed and pressure is applied to the area for 15-20 minutes or until the bleeding stops, the patient will be monitored for 2-4 hours until they are ready to be discharged. Because sedation is often used, patients will likely not be able to drive themselves home.
Patients may typically resume their normal diet and medication schedule the following day unless otherwise directed, and we’ll send a report to the patient’s primary care physician and his or her office will follow up accordingly.