Angiography Health Article

Abnormal results

Abnormal results of an angiography may display a restricted blood vessel or arterial blood flow (ischemia) or an irregular placement or location of blood vessels. The results of an angiography vary widely by the type of procedure performed, and should be interpreted and explained to the patient by a trained radiologist.

Resources

BOOKS

Baim, Donald S., and William Grossman, eds. Grossman's Cardiac Catheterization, Angiography and Intervention, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000.

OTHER

Angiography Fact Sheet. Beth Israel Hospital, 2001. 22 June 2001 <http://radiology.bidmc.harvard.edu/kinds_of_exams/angio/angio.html>.

Coronary Angiography Fact Sheet. American Heart Association, 2001. 22 June 2001 <http://www.americanheart.org/Heart_and_Stroke_A_Z_Guide/corang.html>.

Angiography Overview. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 2001. 22 June 2001 <www.nmh.org/health_info/hlc.html>.

Coronary Angiography and angioplasty. Video. Timonium, MD: Milner-Fenwick, 1999.

Paula Anne Ford-Martin

Arteriosclerosis

—A chronic condition characterized by thickening and hardening of the arteries and the buildup of plaque on the arterial walls. Arteriosclerosis can slow or impair blood circulation.

Carotid artery

—An artery located in the neck.

Catheter

—A long, thin, flexible tube used in angiography to inject contrast material into the arteries.

Cirrhosis

—A condition characterized by the destruction of healthy liver tissue. A cirrhotic liver is scarred and cannot break down the proteins in the bloodstream. Cirrhosis is associated with portal hypertension.

Computed tomography (CT)

—A non-invasive diagnostic tool radiologists may use instead of x-ray angiography.

Embolism

—A blood clot, air bubble, or clot of foreign material that travels and blocks the flow of blood in an artery. When blood supply to a tissue or organ is blocked by an embolism, infarction, or death of the tissue the artery feeds, occurs. Without immediate and appropriate treatment, an embolism can be fatal.

Femoral artery

—An artery located in the groin area that is the most frequently accessed site for arterial puncture in angiography.

Fluorescein dye

—An orange dye used to illuminate the blood vessels of the retina in fluorescein angiography.

Fluoroscopic screen

—A fluorescent screen which displays moving x rays of the body. Fluoroscopy allows the radiologist to visualize the guide wire and catheter he is moving through the patient's artery.

Guide wire

—A wire that is inserted into an artery to guide a catheter to a certain location in the body.

Ischemia

—A lack of normal blood supply to a organ or body part because of blockages or constriction of the blood vessels.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

—A non-invasive diagnostic tool radiologists may use instead of x-ray angiography. MRI scans use magnetic wavesto create a picture of structures in the body.

Necrosis

—Cellular or tissue death; skin necrosis may be caused by multiple, consecutive doses of radiation from fluoroscopic or x-ray procedures.

Plaque

—Fatty material that is deposited on the inside of the arterial wall.

Portal hypertension

—A condition caused by cirrhosis of the liver. It is characterized by impaired or reversed blood flow from the portal vein to the liver, an enlarged spleen, and dilated veins in the esophagus and stomach.

Portal vein thrombosis

—The development of a blood clot in the vein that brings blood into the liver. Untreated portal vein thrombosis causes portal hypertension.

QUESTIONS TO ASK THE DOCTOR

• Did you see any abnormalities?
• How long will I need to stay in the hospital? How many days until I can resume normal activities?
• When can I resume any medications that were stopped?
• What future care will I need?