Peripheral Vascular Disease Procedures
- Peripheral Vascular Disease - Home
- About Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
- Angioplasty and Stent Placement - Minimally Invasive Surgical Solutions; Angioplasty and Stent Placement
- Aortic Aneurysms - Minimally Invasive Surgical Solutions and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
Angiography - Minimally Invasive Surgical Solutions and Angiogram
Angiograms are performed by interventional radiologists (IR). Angiography is an X-ray exam of the arteries and veins to diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problems. During an angiogram, the doctor inserts a thin tube (catheter) into the artery through a small nick in the skin about the size of the tip of a pencil. A substance called a contrast agent (X-ray dye) is injected to make the blood vessels visible on the X-ray.
In many cases, a IR can treat a blocked blood vessel without surgery at the same time the angiogram is performed. Interventional radiologists treat blockages with techniques called angioplasty and thrombolysis.
People with risk factors or any signs or symptoms of vascular disease, should be evaluated by a physician. Untreated vascular disease can lead to serious health problems, such as tissue death and gangrene requiring amputation or other surgery, chronic disability and pain, and weakened blood vessels that may rupture without warning. Deadly complications can result, including stroke (a clogged or narrowed blood vessel cuts the supply of blood to the brain) and pulmonary embolism (a blood clot breaks loose and travels to the heart and lungs).