Angiographic Procedures
Nonstop flow of blood from the heart to the body and back to the heart again is called circulation. Arteries deliver oxygen-rich blood to your body and veins return oxygen-depleted blood to the heart.
As you age, artery walls thicken and lose elasticity. A fatty buildup called plaque may collect on artery walls and reduce healthy blood flow. This condition is called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Impaired circulation requires medical evaluation. The arteriogram or angiogram is an excellent diagnostic tool to give your doctor a detailed image of narrowed or blocked arteries.
The angiogram is performed in the hospital and utilizes special dye that is injected into your lower body. The dye as revealed by x-ray will provide your doctor with a “map” of your arteries. Although patients are awake for the procedure, they receive medication to help them relax. They may feel pressure when the needle is inserted into the artery and a sensation of warmth as the dye is released. The angiogram generally takes an hour or less and patients can usually go home in several hours.
Whereas the angiogram is a diagnostic tool, angioplasty is a minimally invasive treatment for narrowed arteries or small blockages. A catheter with a small balloon on the tip is inserted through a small puncture into the artery. The doctor guides the balloon into position by watching an image of the artery on a video monitor. The patient is fully awake but mildly sedated throughout the procedure which usually takes 1 to 2 hours to perform. Blood flow in the artery may be improved for a few years. If blockage returns, the procedure may be repeated.
A thin guide wire is passed through a catheter into the artery.
A balloon-tipped catheter is inserted into the artery, threaded over the guide wire, and advanced to the blockage site.
The balloon is inflated and deflated several times to crack the plaque and press it against the artery wall.
The balloon is deflated and the catheters are removed when the blockage has been opened. The widened artery facilitates improved blood flow.
