COMMON DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

VASCULAR OR INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY - ANGIOGRAM

The term interventional refers to the diagnostic and many preventative and/or therapeutic options for vascular (relating to the veins) and nonvascular diseases. Once limited to diagonstic imaging, continuing developments have enabled radiologists to treat patients using minimally invasive techniques. These procedures are usually performed with local and intravenous sedation and performed in an interventional suite, not an operating room. This allows for the elimination of major surgery and hospital stays while also diminishing costs for the patient. While there are various types of therapeutic and diagnostic techniques involved in internventional radiology, the major form of diagnostic testing is angiography.

Angiography (angos-Greek word meaning vessel)
This diagnostic test looks at the blood vessels throughout the entire body to determine the presence of disease in the arteries, capillaries and veins. Depending on the focus of study, angiography can be divided into specialty areas such as coronary and neuro angiography. It is important to note that this diagnostic procedure is invasive, which means surgical entry into the patient's body is required, but on a very minimal scale. A local anesthetic is used to numb the groin area where the radiologist will make a small incision. The patient must be awake during the procedure as there will be limited but necessary interaction between the doctor and patient.

What happens during an angiogram
In order to prepare for the procedure, a small area in the groin will be cleansed and then shaved. This is necessary to prevent the possibility of infection. A sedative is administered to insure the relaxation of the patient. The examining table is movable to allow for easier access and tracking of movement throughout the body.

Considered to be minimally invasive surgery, an angiogram involves only a small incision in the groin to allow for the insertion of a catheter, a small, slender tube. Contrast dye is then injected into the arteries through the catheter. This non-toxic dye allows for the physician to look directly at the arteries via x-ray cameras. These cameras project the patient's blood vessels onto a television-like monitor where the physician can follow the path of the dye. If there is a problem such as arterial blockage, this test will show exactly where the problematic area is located.

What an angiogram looks at
An angiogram can create images blood vessels any where in the body, including: