Medical Health Tests Angiogram Abdominal Angiogram

This procedure is also known as an arteriogram. This involves taking an x-ray image of the blood vessels. This procedure is done to check vascular conditions like blockages, stenosis (where the blood vessels become narrow), and aneurysm (the blood vessel balloons up).

An abdominal angiogram checks the blood vessels of the stomach, and assesses the flow of blood to the abdominal organs like the spleen and liver. This procedure is also done to transport medicines into the abdomen to treat hemorrhage and cancer.

Fluoroscopy is also sometimes done while an abdominal angiogram is being conducted. This procedure is a way to study the moving body structures.

Procedure

To take an x-ray of the blood vessel, an IV is needed so that the contrasting dye can be inserted into the body. The dye makes the blood vessels look opaque while the x-ray is being taken, and this helps the doctors get a clear view of the same. When the contrasting dye is injected into a particular blood vessel, it is known as a superselective angiography.

Reasons

This is done to check for abnormalities of blood vessels that are in the abdomen or the organs in the stomach. Some of the abnormalities that are checked are aneurysms, stenosis, arteriovenous malformation, thrombosis, and tumors. Some of the other conditions that are checked with an abdominal angiogram are inflammation, gallstones, cirrhosis, hemorrhage and invasion of a tumor into the veins. Abdominal angiography is done to deliver medicines to the organ or tissue for treating cancer or hemorrhages.

Risks

• It is advisable to ask your physician about the amount of radiation that will be used in the procedure. If you have had any reaction to radiation in the past, then do discuss the same with your doctor.
• If you suspect that you are pregnant or are pregnant, then you must tell that to the doctor. Exposure to radiation during pregnancy can cause birth defects in the child.
• There are chances of getting an allergic reaction to the dye. If you are sensitive to shellfish, iodine, contrast dye or to certain medicines, then do inform your doctor. Also, if you have kidney problems or kidney failure, then inform your doctor.
• There is a small chance of abdomen-related complications. Some of these include hemorrhage because of a punctured blood vessel; nerve injury; a blood clot; hematoma; infection; and, organ damage.