Vascular and Interventional
Radiology (Angiography)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What do I have to do before the procedure?
Follow these steps.
- What time do I show up at the hospital?
Your referring physician's office will tell you what time
to arrive for your appointment. If there are still questions,
please phone us at 401-793-4429.
- What happens after I arrive at The Miriam Hospital?
You will be directed to the radiology prep and holding area, where
you will be interviewed by a nurse who will ask questions
about your medical history. Some patients find it helpful to bring
along a friend or family member to help remember details of their
medical history. A list of medications and their doses
is important. The nurse will start an intravenous line in your
arm or hand. This will allow us to give you fluid and anesthetic
medication.
When it is time for your procedure you will be brought to the
vascular and interventional radiology holding area where a physician
or physician assistant will speak with you, perform
a physical examination, ask you questions and explain the
procedure in detail. The risks and benefits of the procedure will
be reviewed as well as possible alternative therapies. After all
of your questions have been answered, you will be asked to sign
a consent form, a statement that you agree to have the
procedure performed. You will then be brought into the procedure
room.
- Who will be in the procedure room ?
During your procedure, you will hear the voices of many people.
A radiologist will be performing the actual procedure, and
will have at least one assistant who is also a physician, a physician
assistant or special procedures technologist. A specially
trained radiologic technologist who will run the x-ray equipment
will also be in the room. There will be a nurse in the room at
all times. The nurse will place basic monitoring equipment on
you and administer the intravenous sedative. During the procedure,
the nurse will speak to you frequently, answer any questions and
address any concerns you may have.
- What happens during the angiogram procedure?
Usually, the catheter is introduced into a blood vessel in
the upper leg. Occasionally, we will use a vessel in the arm.
The skin is cleansed using aseptic technique and a sterile blanket
is placed over you. We then use a tiny needle to numb the skin
with lidocaine (a drug that resembles novocaine used by dentists).
You may feel a mild burning when we inject the lidocaine medicine,
but whatever burns will be numb in just a few seconds. After this,
you shouldn't feel any discomfort.
We then enter the blood vessel near the groin with a small needle
and exchange that needle for a catheter. A catheter is a very
thin tube that is about the diameter of a piece of spaghetti.
Using the x-ray machine, the catheter is advanced into the blood
vessel to be studied.
Once the catheter is positioned, we inject x-ray contrast
and obtain x-ray images. Most patients don't feel the contrast;
others report a warm feeling during the injection. The average
time you will be on the x-ray table for a diagnostic procedure
is about an hour and a half.
- What happens after the procedure?
After the study is completed, you will be brought back to
the radiology holding area. The catheter
is removed and we put pressure on the site to prevent a large
bruise from forming. It is very important that you lay flat with your
legs straight for five hours to allow the blood vessel to heal.
Once the effects of sedative medications have worn off, you will
be able to drink clear liquids and eat a meal.
Patients who are admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay
will be transferred to their room. Patients going home will remain
in the radiology holding area for up to five hours, then discharged to
home with written and oral instructions. Phone numbers will be
provided for 24-hour-a-day access to an interventional radiologist
should you have any questions. You will be unable to drive yourself
home, so please make arrangements for a ride home.
- How will I get the results of the exam?
After the procedure is finished, one of our board-certified radiologists
will interpret the study and send a report to your doctor.
For more information about vascular/interventional radiology at The Miriam Hospital, call 401-793-4429
or e-mail LCornell@Lifespan.org.
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