Aortic angiography is a procedure that uses a special dye and x-rays to see how blood flows through the aorta, the major artery leading out of the heart, and through your abdomen or belly.
Angiography is an imaging test that uses x-rays and a special dye to see inside the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
This test is done in a special unit of the hospital. Before the test starts, you will be given a mild sedative to help you relax.
After the x-rays or treatments are finished, the catheter is removed. Pressure is immediately applied to the puncture site for 20 - 45 minutes to stop the bleeding. After that time, the area is checked and a tight bandage is applied. The leg is usually kept straight for another 6 hours after the procedure.
You will be asked not to eat or drink anything for 6-8 hours before the test.
You will be asked to wear a hospital gown and sign a consent form for the procedure. Remove jewelry from the area being studied.
Tell your health care provider:
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 usually goes away within a few seconds.
You may have some discomfort from lying on the hospital table and staying still for a long time.
Generally, you can resume normal activity the day after the procedure.
Your doctor may order this test if there are signs or symptoms of a problem with the aorta or its branches, including:
Abnormal results may be due to:
Risks of aortic angiography include:
This procedure may be combined with left heart catheterization to look for coronary artery disease.
Aortic angiography has been mostly replaced by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.
Angiography - aorta; Aortography; Abdominal aorta angiogram; Aortic arteriogram
Jackson JE, Allison DJ, Meaney J. Angiography: Principles, techniques (including CTA and MRA) and complications. In: Grainger Rc, Allison D, Dixon AK, eds. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 6.
Nicholson T, Patel J. The Aorta. In: Grainger RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK, eds. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 5th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2008:chap 27.
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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