What is the difference between angiography and angiocardiography

Doctors who specialize in vascular procedures are familiar with the surgical procedures available for specific problems and can advise as to how best to treat the problem. John Muir Health provides full service care for individuals with vascular disease. Expert vascular surgeons are on staff at both medical centers. Angiography, Angiogram, and Arteriogram. Description of Angiography, Angiogram and Arteriogram Angiography, angiogram, or arteriograms are terms that describe a procedure used to identify narrowing or blockages in the arteries in the body.

Treatment Options An angiogram is a diagnostic procedure that may lead to a treatment procedure. We use cookies to measure website traffic and personalize content for a better browsing experience. By using this website, you consent to our cookies. Back to Health A to Z. Angiography is a type of X-ray used to check blood vessels. Blood vessels do not show clearly on a normal X-ray, so a special dye needs to be injected into your blood first.

The test can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours. You'll usually be able to go home a few hours afterwards. An angiographic procedure is generally a safe and painless procedure that can take about 30 minutes to two hours. There are few risks associated with the process. While it is common to notice some bruising or soreness for a week or two after the angiography, rare complications such as a severe allergy to the dye, dizziness or shortness of breath, stroke, or kidney damage due to internal bleeding, can also take place.

However, these side effects are temporary and can be treated. In the event of a blockage in your artery, your doctor may suggest an angioplasty procedure in order to avoid major surgery. Here again, the catheter or tiny tube is inserted through the arterial blockage. A special balloon on the catheter is inflated at the site using water pressure that is higher than the blood pressure, thus relieving the blockage and allowing more blood to flow through. The balloon is then deflated and withdrawn.

This is commonly known as balloon angioplasty. You may have to remove contact lenses, eyeglasses, jewelry and hairpins. In a cardiac catheterization procedure, doctors insert a catheter in an artery in your wrist radial artery or in your groin femoral artery.

The catheter is then threaded through your blood vessels to your heart. For the procedure, you lie on your back on an X-ray table. Because the table may be tilted during the procedure, safety straps may be fastened across your chest and legs. X-ray cameras will move over and around your head and chest to take pictures from many angles. An IV line is inserted into a vein in your arm. You may be given a sedative through the IV to help you relax, as well as other medications and fluids.

You'll be very sleepy and may drift off to sleep during the procedure, but you'll still be able to be easily awakened to follow any instructions. Electrodes on your chest monitor your heart throughout the procedure. A blood pressure cuff tracks your blood pressure and another device, a pulse oximeter, measures the amount of oxygen in your blood.

A small amount of hair may be shaved from your groin or arm where a flexible tube catheter will be inserted. The area is washed and disinfected and then numbed with an injection of local anesthetic.

A small incision is made at the entry site, and a short plastic tube sheath is inserted into your artery. The catheter is inserted through the sheath into your blood vessel and carefully threaded to your heart or coronary arteries.

Threading the catheter shouldn't cause pain, and you shouldn't feel it moving through your body. Tell your health care team if you have any discomfort. Dye contrast material is injected through the catheter. When this happens, you may have a brief sensation of flushing or warmth. But again, tell your health care team if you feel pain or discomfort. The dye is easy to see on X-ray images. As it moves through your blood vessels, your doctor can observe its flow and identify any blockages or constricted areas.

Depending on what your doctor discovers during your angiogram, you may have additional catheter procedures at the same time, such as a balloon angioplasty or a stent placement to open up a narrowed artery.