Angiography is used to diagnose and treat various blood vessel issues. Common reasons include:
Suspected blocked arteries: If you experience chest pain (angina), leg pain, or numbness, an angiogram can pinpoint blockages in your arteries.
Aneurysm concerns: This procedure helps identify bulges (aneurysms) in your blood vessels.
Guiding treatment: During procedures like angioplasty or stent placement, angiography provides real-time visualization of blood flow.
Catheter insertion: A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery (usually in the groin, arm, or neck) and guided to the area of interest using X-ray imaging.
Contrast dye injection: A special dye is injected through the catheter, highlighting the blood vessels on the X-ray images.
Fluoroscopy guidance: This real-time X-ray allows doctors to see blood flow within the vessels.
While generally safe, angiography carries some potential risks:
Bleeding: Bleeding can occur at the insertion site.
Allergic reaction: There’s a rare chance of an allergic reaction to the contrast dye.
Kidney damage: In rare cases, the contrast dye can affect kidney function.
Stroke or heart attack: These are very rare risks.
Monitoring: Afterward, you’ll be monitored for a few hours to ensure no complications arise.
Discomfort: You may experience some discomfort at the insertion site.
Recovery: Recovery is typically quick, and you can usually go home the same day or the next day.
Cost starts from 400USD and it may vary due to different factors (hospital, stay, doctor and other factors).
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