PERIPHERAL ANGIOGRAPHY CAROTID ANGIOGRAPHY

Angiography is an X-ray exam of the arteries and veins to diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problems. An interventional radiologist performs this X-ray procedure, which is also called an angiogram. During the 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. Sometimes if the patient has kidney failure we use other "contrast agents like carbon dioxide CO2 which won't worsen the kidney failure like x-ray dye can.

One of the most common reasons for angiograms is to see if there is a blockage or narrowing in a blood vessel that may interfere with the normal flow of blood through the body. In many cases, the interventional radiologist 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.

Carotid angiograms confirm the degree of narrowing of the vessels which supply the brain, the carotid and vertebral arteries. Severe vessel narrowing can lead to stroke. The treatment for narrowing is usually surgical although in special cases carotid narrowing is treated by angioplasty and Stent placement.