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Aortic angiography

Angiography - aorta; Aortography; Abdominal aorta angiogram; Aortic arteriogram

 

Aortic angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye and x-rays to see how blood flows through the aorta. The aorta is the major artery leading out of the heart, and through your abdomen or belly.

Angiography uses x-rays and a special dye to see inside the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

How the Test is Performed

 

This test is done at a hospital. Before the test starts, you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax.

  • An area of your body, most often in your arm or groin area, is cleaned and numbed with a local numbing medicine (anesthetic).
  • A radiologist or cardiologist will place a needle into the groin blood vessel. A guidewire and a long tube (catheter) will be passed through this needle.
  • The catheter is moved into the aorta. The doctor can see live images of the aorta on a TV-like monitor, and x-rays are used to guide the catheter to the correct position.
  • Once the catheter is in place, dye is injected into it. X-ray images are taken to see how the dye moves through the aorta. The dye helps detect any blockages in blood flow.

After the x-rays or treatments are finished, the catheter is removed. Pressure is applied to the puncture site for 20 to 45 minutes to stop the bleeding. After that time, the area is checked and a tight bandage is applied. The leg is most often kept straight for another 6 hours after the procedure.

 

How to Prepare for the Test

 

You will not eat or drink anything for 6 to 8 hours before the test.

You will wear a hospital gown and sign a consent form for the procedure. Remove jewelry from the area being studied.

Tell your health care provider:

  • If you are pregnant
  • If you have ever had any allergic reactions to x-ray contrast material or iodine substances
  • If you are allergic to any medicines
  • Which medicines you are taking (including any herbal preparations)
  • If you have ever had any bleeding problems

 

How the Test Will Feel

 

You will be awake during the test. You may feel a sting as the numbing medicine is given and some pressure as the catheter is inserted. You may feel a warm flushing when the contrast dye flows through the catheter. This is normal and most often goes away in a few seconds.

You may have some discomfort from lying on the hospital table and staying still for a long time.

In most cases, you can resume normal activity the day after the procedure.

 

Why the Test is Performed

 

Your provider may ask for this test if there are signs or symptoms of a problem with the aorta or its branches, including:

  • Aortic aneurysm
  • Aortic dissection
  • Congenital (present from birth) problems
  • AV malformation
  • Double aortic arch
  • Coarctation of the aorta
  • Vascular ring
  • Injury to the aorta
  • Takayasu's arteritis

 

What Abnormal Results Mean

 

Abnormal results may be due to:

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm
  • Aortic dissection
  • Aortic regurgitation
  • Aortic stenosis
  • Congenital (present from birth) problems
  • Double aortic arch
  • Coarction of the aorta
  • Vascular ring
  • Injury to the aorta
  • Mesenteric ischemia
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Renal artery stenosis
  • Takayasu's arteritis

 

Risks

 

Risks of aortic angiography include:

  • Allergic reaction to the contrast dye
  • Blockage of the artery
  • Blood clot that travels to the lungs
  • Bruising at the site of catheter insertion
  • Damage to the blood vessel where the needle and catheter are inserted
  • Excessive bleeding or a blood clot where the catheter is inserted, which can reduce blood flow to the leg
  • Heart attack or stroke
  • Hematoma, a collection of blood at the site of the needle puncture
  • Infection
  • Injury to the nerves at the needle puncture site
  • Kidney damage from the dye

 

Considerations

 

This procedure may be combined with left heart catheterization to look for coronary artery disease.

Aortic angiography has been mostly replaced by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.

 

 

Open References

References

Fattori R, Lovato L. The thortic aortica. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 6th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2014:chap 24.

Jackson JE, Meaney JFM. Angiography. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging . 6th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2014:chap 84.

 
  • Cardiac arteriogram

    Cardiac arteriogram - illustration

    An arteriorgram is the injection of contrast material or dye into one or more arteries to make them visible on an x-ray. The blood flow through the area can be evaluated with fluoroscopy (i.e., continuous X-rays that allow one to see the contrast material in movement).

    Cardiac arteriogram

    illustration

    • Cardiac arteriogram

      Cardiac arteriogram - illustration

      An arteriorgram is the injection of contrast material or dye into one or more arteries to make them visible on an x-ray. The blood flow through the area can be evaluated with fluoroscopy (i.e., continuous X-rays that allow one to see the contrast material in movement).

      Cardiac arteriogram

      illustration

    A Closer Look

     

      Tests for Aortic angiography

       
       

      Review Date: 12/26/2014

      Reviewed By: Deepak Sudheendra, MD, Assistant Professor of Interventional Radiology & Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, with an expertise in Vascular Interventional Radiology & Surgical Critical Care, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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