Aortic angiography
Angiography - aorta; Aortography; Abdominal aorta angiogram; Aortic arteriogram; Aneurysm - aortic arteriogramAortic angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye and x-rays to see how blood flows through the aorta. The aorta is the major artery. It carries blood out of the heart, and through your abdomen or belly.
Angiography uses x-rays and a special dye to see the insides of the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
x-rays
X-rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation, just like visible light. An x-ray machine sends individual x-ray waves through the body. The images...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleHow the Test is Performed
This test is done at a hospital. Before the test starts, you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax.
- An area of your body, most often in your arm or groin area, is cleaned and numbed with a local numbing medicine (anesthetic).
- A radiologist or cardiologist will place a needle into the groin blood vessel. A guidewire and a long tube (catheter) will be passed through this needle.
- The catheter is moved into the aorta. The doctor can see live images of the aorta on a TV-like monitor. X-rays are used to guide the catheter to the correct position.
- Once the catheter is in place, dye is injected into it. X-ray images are taken to see how the dye moves through the aorta. The dye helps detect any blockages in blood flow.
After the x-rays or treatments are finished, the catheter is removed. Pressure is applied to the puncture site for 20 to 45 minutes to stop the bleeding. After that time, the area is checked and a tight bandage is applied. The leg is most often kept straight for another 6 hours after the procedure. You should avoid strenuous activity, such as heavy lifting, for 24 to 48 hours.
How to Prepare for the Test
You may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 6 to 8 hours before the test.
You will wear a hospital gown and sign a consent form for the procedure. Remove jewelry from the area being studied.
Tell your health care provider:
- If you are pregnant
- If you have ever had any allergic reactions to x-ray contrast material, shellfish, or iodine substances
- If you are allergic to any medicines
- Which medicines you are taking (including any herbal preparations)
- If you have ever had any bleeding problems
You will be awake during the test. You may feel a sting as the numbing medicine is given and some pressure as the catheter is inserted. You may feel a warm flushing when the contrast dye flows through the catheter. This is normal and most often goes away in a few seconds.
You may have some discomfort from lying on the hospital table and staying still for a long time.
In most cases, you can resume normal activity the day after the procedure.
Why the Test is Performed
Your provider may ask for this test if there are signs or symptoms of a problem with the aorta or its branches, including:
- Aortic aneurysm
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Aortic dissection
Aortic dissection
Aortic dissection is a serious condition in which there is a tear in the wall of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta). As the te...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Congenital (present from birth) problems
- AV malformation
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Double aortic arch
Double aortic arch
Double aortic arch is an abnormal formation of the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It is a congen...
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Coarctation of the aorta
Coarctation of the aorta
The aorta is a larger artery that carries blood from the heart to the vessels that supply the rest of the body with blood. If part of the aorta is n...
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Vascular ring
Vascular ring
Vascular ring is an abnormal formation of the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It is a congenital ...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Injury to the aorta
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Takayasu arteritis
Takayasu arteritis
Takayasu arteritis is an inflammation of large arteries such as the aorta and its major branches. The aorta is the artery that carries blood from th...
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What Abnormal Results Mean
Abnormal results may be due to:
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Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
The aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when an area of t...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Aortic dissection
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Aortic regurgitation
Aortic regurgitation
Aortic regurgitation is a heart valve disease in which the aortic valve does not close tightly. This allows blood to flow from the aorta (the larges...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Congenital (present from birth) problems
- Double aortic arch
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Vascular ring
- Injury to the aorta
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Mesenteric artery disease or ischemia
Mesenteric artery disease or ischemia
Mesenteric artery ischemia occurs when there is a narrowing or blockage of one or more of the three major arteries that supply the small and large in...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Peripheral artery disease
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Renal artery stenosis
Renal artery stenosis
Renovascular hypertension is high blood pressure due to narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the kidneys. This condition is also called ren...
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Takayasu arteritis
Takayasu arteritis
Takayasu arteritis is an inflammation of large arteries such as the aorta and its major branches. The aorta is the artery that carries blood from th...
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Risks
Risks of aortic angiography include:
- Allergic reaction to the contrast dye
- Blockage of the artery
- Blood clot that travels to the lungs
- Bruising at the site of catheter insertion
- Damage to the blood vessel where the needle and catheter are inserted
- Excessive bleeding or a blood clot where the catheter is inserted, which can reduce blood flow to the leg
Blood clot
Blood clots are clumps that occur when blood hardens from a liquid to a solid. A blood clot that forms inside one of your veins or arteries is calle...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Heart attack or stroke
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Hematoma, a collection of blood at the site of the needle puncture
- Infection
- Injury to the nerves at the needle puncture site
- Kidney damage from the dye
Considerations
This procedure may be done with left heart catheterization to look for coronary artery disease.
Left heart catheterization
Left heart catheterization is the passage of a thin flexible tube (catheter) into the left side of the heart. It is done to diagnose or treat certai...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAortic angiography has been mostly replaced by computed tomography (CT) angiography or magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.
Computed tomography (CT) angiography
CT angiography combines a CT scan with the injection of dye. This technique is able to create pictures of the blood vessels in your belly (abdomen) ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleMagnetic resonance (MR) angiography
Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is an MRI exam of the blood vessels. Unlike traditional angiography that involves placing a tube (catheter) int...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleReferences
Grant LA, Griffin N. The aorta. In: Grant LA, Griffin N, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology Essentials. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 2.4.
Reekers JA. Angiography: principles, techniques and complications. In: Adam A, Dixon AK, Gillard JH, Schaefer-Prokop CM, eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 78.
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Cardiac arteriogram - illustration
An arteriogram is the injection of contrast material or dye into one or more arteries to make them visible on an x-ray. The blood flow through the area can be evaluated with fluoroscopy (i.e., continuous X-rays that allow one to see the contrast material in movement).
Cardiac arteriogram
illustration
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Cardiac arteriogram - illustration
An arteriogram is the injection of contrast material or dye into one or more arteries to make them visible on an x-ray. The blood flow through the area can be evaluated with fluoroscopy (i.e., continuous X-rays that allow one to see the contrast material in movement).
Cardiac arteriogram
illustration
Review Date: 10/18/2022
Reviewed By: Deepak Sudheendra, MD, MHCI, RPVI, FSIR, Founder and CEO, 360 Vascular Institute, with an expertise in Vascular Interventional Radiology & Surgical Critical Care, Columbus, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.