CT ANGIOGRAPHY
About the Examination
Blood vessels are not dense enough to show up on a normal x-ray, so radiographers perform a specialised procedure, called CT angiography.
What is CT Angiography?
CT Angiography is a specialised type of x-ray, used to examine blood vessels.
A contrast medium, also known as an x-ray dye, is injected into the bloodstream, making it possible for the CT scanner to pick up the vessels and blood flow.
What part of the Anatomy is examined during CT Angiography?
CT Angiography is typically performed to monitor the health of circulatory systems in the following parts of the body:
- Heart (coronary angiography)
- Brain (cerebral angiography)
- Lungs (pulmonary angiography)
- Chest and Abdomen (aortic angiography)
- Kidneys (renal angiography)
- Arms and legs (extremity angiography)
What Conditions can be Diagnosed by CT Angiography?
CT Angiography can be used to diagnose a number of conditions which affect blood flow and cause damage to the blood vessels. For example:
- Heart disease
- Blood clots
- Internal bleeding
- Clogged or narrowed arteries
Why is CT Angiography required?
CT Angiography is required to detect damage to the blood vessels and internal organs because images of soft tissue cannot be captured during a normal x-ray.
What are the Risks and Complications of CT Angiography?
There are a few risks associated with CT Angiography.
For example, patients may rarely suffer from a severe reaction to the contrast medium and experience:
- Low blood pressure
- Anaphylactic shock
- Cardiac Arrest
Allergic reactions to the x-ray dye are usually mild and can be treated with medication on site.
Another risk commonly associated with x-rays is radiation exposure, which can lead to cancer. However, patients are typically only exposed to a few seconds of low level radiation in a localised area.
You can find out more about the levels and risks of x-rays from the Patient Dose Information Fact Sheet, published by Public Health England.
What are consequences if the suspected condition is undiagnosed or untreated?
CT Angiography is used to detect and diagnose a number of severe conditions, which if left untreated can cause severe complications.
CT Angiography can also pick up symptoms like clogged or hardened arteries which can be a sign of serious conditions and lead to complications. Early detection and treatment can increase the chances of prevention and recovery.
About the Equipment
What are the benefits of CT Angiography?
CT Angiography is a low risk, safe and painless procedure, which produces high quality detailed images of blood vessels and internal organs.
Are there any alternatives to CT Angiography?
It is possible to perform conventional angiograms using a specialised piece of equipment called an angiography imaging suite. These are usually located in the public hospitals or in the operating theatres of private hospitals. This is a day surgery procedure and involves access directly to the artery system of the body.
Preparation for CT Angiography
What Special Diet is required Before CT Angiography
You will need to fast for 4 hours before your procedure.
You will be given detailed instructions of how to prepare for your procedure when you book your appointment.
What should a Patient Tell the Radiographer Before an angiography
You will need to tell the radiographer if you are:
- Pregnant
- Suffering from any serious health conditions or allergies (i.e. diabetes or kidney disease)
- Taking any medication
What to bring for an angiography
Your GP or specialist may ask you to bring along any medications or copies of previous x-rays you have. Everything else needed will be supplied by the radiographer.
What to wear for an angiography
You will be asked to remove any metallic items, such as jewellery, watches, eyewear and belts, as these items can show up on the x-ray.
You will be asked to remove any clothing obstructing the area to be x-rayed and given a medical gown to wear instead, so you should try and wear something that is comfortable and easy to remove.
How Long will an angiography take?
The exact timing of an angiography will vary depending on the type of procedure and can take between 30 mins and 3 hours to complete.
Angiography Procedure Description
What does angiography involve?
A specialist will carry out the angiography procedure. Once you have been injected with a contrast medium the radiographer will take a number of x-rays which highlight the specific areas highlighted by the dye.
Detail the specific steps during an angiography
During a typical procedure a local anaesthetic will be applied to the area to be examined. If the procedure is particularly complex, or the patient is very young, a general may be administered instead.
A thin tube, called a catheter is inserted, via a small incision, into an artery, usually located in your wrist or groin. The radiographer will use x-ray imaging to ensure that the catheter is positioned correctly before injecting the contrast medium into the bloodstream.
Patients may experience the following sensations as the contrast agent moves through the body:
- Warmth
- Mild burning
- A metallic taste or smell
- An temporary urge to pass urine
Some patients may also suffer a small amount of bruising where the catheter is inserted.
Post Angiography Instructions
What are the Recovery Details?
After the procedure you will need a few hours of rest, to allow the effects of the anaesthetic to start to wear off and to prevent any bleeding from the catheter incision.
Some patients may be asked to stay in hospital overnight for observation, but most will be able to go home after a couple of hours.
You will need a friend or family to stay with you. It usually takes eight to twelve hours before patients feel healthy enough to resume normal activities.
Can I Drive Home?
You will need someone to pick you up from the hospital as you will still be under the effects of anaesthetic. Patients should also abstain from any alcohol or the operation of any machinery for at least twenty-four hours after the procedure.
