Angiography

Any allergies you may have
Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before the test
Whether you need a ride to and from the test

Anesthesia

The doctor will give local anesthesia—the area will be numbed. Other medicine may help you relax.

Description of the Procedure

A small incision will be made in the groin, upper thigh, arm, or neck. A catheter (tube) will be passed through the incision into a blood vessel. The tube will be passed through blood vessels to the problem area. A contrast dye will be passed through the tube. It will highlight the blood vessels on a screen in the room. The tube will be removed. Pressure will be applied to the insertion site for a few minutes. A bandage will be placed over the site.

How Long Will It Take?

Less than an hour. It can take longer if the doctor fixes any problems at the same time.

Will It Hurt?

It should not hurt. There may be:

A brief sting when the numbing medicine is injected
Pressure when the tube is inserted
A flushed, hot feeling when the contrast dye is added

Post-procedure Care

At the Care Center

You will need to lie flat for some time. It will help to stop bleeding at the insertion site.

Most can go home the same day. The stay will be longer if there are problems.

At Home

Most can return to normal activity within a couple of days.

Results

The doctor will talk to you about the results. You may need further testing or treatment.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor if you have:

Signs of infection such as fever or chills
Redness, swelling, excess bleeding, or discharge from the site
Severe sweating, pain, chest pain, nausea, or vomiting
A leg or arm that feels cold, numb, or tingly, or turns white or blue
Breathing problems
Problems speaking or seeing
Weakness in the face

If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.

RESOURCES:

American Heart Association
https://www.heart.org

Radiology Info—Radiological Society of North America
https://www.radiologyinfo.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca

The College of Family Physicians of Canada
https://www.cfpc.ca

References:

Angiogram. Society for Vascular Surgery website. Available at: https://vascular.org/patient-resources/vascular-tests/angiogram. Accessed August 25, 2021.

Catheter angiography. Radiology Info—Radiological Society of North America website. Available at: https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/angiocath. Accessed August 25, 2021.

Coronary angiography. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/coronary-angiography . Accessed August 25, 2021.

Diagnostic cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/evaluation/diagnostic-cardiac-catheterization-and-coronary-angiography. Accessed August 25, 2021.

Novak JE, Handa R. Contrast nephropathy associated with percutaneous coronary angiography and intervention. Cardiol Clin. 2019;37(3):287-296.

Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Nicole Meregian, PA
Last Updated: 8/25/2021

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