Arteriogram

The purpose of an arteriogram is to map blood vessels and identify narrowed areas and blockages.

Do not eat or drink anything eight hours before the test. Check with your physician before taking any medicine prior to your exam.

If you have not had recent lab work, some blood will be drawn and sent to the lab before your exam starts. An I.V. will be started in your arm. 

You will be placed on an x-ray table and be connected to an EKG and blood pressure monitors. The skin on both groin areas will be prepped with an antiseptic soap and covered with a sterile towel. A sterile drape will be placed over your body that will cover from your chin to your feet. The radiologist will numb the skin with a local anesthetic and will then insert a needle into the femoral artery. A thin guide wire will be inserted through the needle. Once placed in the artery the needle will be removed. A thin hollow tube called a catheter will be placed over the guide wire. When the catheter is in place within the artery the guide wire will be removed.

Contrast (dye) will be injected through the catheter into the artery and a series of x-rays will be taken.

Upon completion, the catheter will be removed and puncture site will be sealed by manual compression of the puncture site for approximately twenty minutes. You may expect to be on complete bed rest four to eight hours following the procedure.