Arteriogram
Key points
- Arteriography is a procedure in which a contrast material that can be seen using x-ray equipment is injected into one of the arteries, allowing your health care provider to see the vessel.
- An arteriogram can be used to examine almost any artery, including those of the head, kidneys, heart, or lungs.
- You will generally feel some discomfort at the site where the IV is placed.
- The reasons for this test depend on the type of arteriogram that will be performed.
Alternative names
Angiogram; Angiography
Definition
Arteriography is a procedure in which a contrast material that can be seen using x-ray equipment is injected into one of the arteries, allowing your health care provider to see the vessel.
How the test is performed
An arteriogram can be used to examine almost any artery, including those of the head, kidneys, heart, or lungs. It is sometimes used as part of a procedure to repair the blood vessels called balloon Angioplasty .
See the following for information on these more specific types of tests which examine the blood vessels in the same way:
- Cerebral Angiography (head)
- Extremity angiography (arm or leg)
- Renal angiography (kidneys)
- Pulmonary angiography (lungs)
- Lymphangiography (lymph vessels)
- Right heart ventriculography (looking at the right side of the heart)
- Left heart ventriculography (looking at the left side of the heart)
- Coronary angiography (looking at the vessels of the heart)
- Aortic angiography or aortography (looking at the aorta, the major artery from the heart)
- Eye angiography
- Cardiac catheterization
The study is carried out in a laboratory by a trained cardiologist or radiologist and technicians or nurses. First the doctor will need to insert an intravenous (IV) line into one of the blood vessels in your arm, chest, neck, or groin.
A catheter is then inserted through the IV and into your blood vessels using an X-ray machine that produces "live" pictures. Once the catheter is placed into the blood vessel of interest, contrast material is injected and pictures are taken. Sometimes it takes a long time for the doctors to get the catheter into just the right spot. It can be compared to threading a needle for sewing.
How to prepare for the test
How the test will feel
You will generally feel some discomfort at the site where the IV is placed. Most blood vessels do not have nerve endings, so you probably won't feel the catheter inside of your body.
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.